New Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts has said the Cricket Australia board will duly consider bringing back the banned Australian trio – Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, following the release of the Longstaff Review in which failures at a governance level were identified as having contributed to the ball-tampering scandal.
The Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) demanded the ban be cut short or rescinded following the review findings which slammed Cricket Australia (CA) as ‘arrogant’ and out of touch.
“Given there is now independent verification that CA’s system and culture were contributing factors, the ACA Executive calls for the lifting of the Board imposed penalties on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft,” ACA president Greg Dyer said last week.
“My message to Cricket Australia is a simple one: these contrite men have been punished enough. Let them play. I add that the ACA will be relentless in pursuing this end.”
Many heads have rolled since the twin reviews into the culture of CA and the national men's team have been released.
Former Australia captain Steve Smith addressing the media after the ball tampering scandal. Source: AAP
David Peever resigned as chairman, Mark Taylor resigned from the board, Pat Howard stepped down from being the executive general manager of team performance and Ben Amarfio, Cricket Australia's executive general manager of broadcasting, digital media and commercial, was sacked.
The review findings also raised grounds for the reduction in the penalties handed to the banned trio to which Mr Roberts has said will be given ‘due consideration’.
Virat Kohli is now the No.1-rated Test batsman in the world, overtaking Australian Steve Smith. (AAP) Source: AAP
“The ACA’s submission around the player sanctions was received by the board a few days ago,” Roberts told reporters on Wednesday.
“It was addressed by the board rather than to me or management, so it’s not for me to comment on a board matter other than to say the board will be respecting that submission and giving it due consideration.”
After admitting their involvement in ball tampering, skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner were suspended for 12 months each while opening batsman Bancroft were handed a nine-month ban.
The arrival of Warner, Bancroft, and Smith will strengthen their squad as they gear up for the upcoming India series that gets underway in Brisbane on November 21st.
during day one of the Fourth Test match between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 6, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. Source: Ryan Pierse - CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images
India tour of Australia
T-20s
First T20: Gabba, November 21
Second T20: MCG, November 23
Third T20: SCG, November 25
Tests
First Test: Adelaide Oval, December 6-10
Second Test: Perth Stadium, December 14-18
Third Test: MCG, December 26-30
Fourth Test: SCG, January 3-7
ODIs
First ODI: SCG, January 12
Second ODI: Adelaide Oval, January 15
Third ODI: MCG, January 18
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