Cheats face year in the wilderness
STEVE Smith and David Warner most likely face oneyear international cricket bans, with their participation in the 2019 World Cup and Ashes campaigns also in the balance.
As fury over the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa continued, spin legend Shane Warne slammed disgraced skipper Smith’s behaviour as “un-Australian”.
“At the end of the day, the captain decided to take a decision to cheat on the field,” Warne said.
Smith has claimed the ball tampering was a one-off mistake.
But Cricket Australia bosses have acknowledged he and vice-captain Warner, the other alleged key conspirator, must be sidelined for at least six months, insiders say.
With only a one-day series in England in June and a twoTest series against Pakistan over the winter — a ban also taking in next summer’s series against India is likely. But such is the level of public anger, the pair’s participation in next year’s World Cup campaign in the UK and the following Ashes series is also at risk, sources say. Warner is set to be banned by Cricket Australia for the fourth Test in South Africa, and probably beyond, as he and Smith also face expulsion from the lucrative Indian Premier League. Darren Lehmann’s position as head coach is seen as untenable and young batsman Cameron Bancroft — put up to the tampering — is expected to face a lesser penalty. Cricket Australia investigators, who landed in Cape Town late yesterday, will spend today exploring the level of involvement of all members of the shamed touring party. They will report to CA chief executive James Sutherland, who also flew to South Africa last night to determine penalties, which could come as soon as tomorrow morning. Smith, who remained in Cape Town with fiancee Dani Willis ahead of his grilling, has already been suspended and will miss the fourth Test in Johannesburg, which starts on Friday. But several other senior players, including bowlers M i tch Starc , Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, have tried to distance themselves from involvement in the scandal after Smith said the decision to tamper with the ball was made by the “leadership group”. The bowlers, angry at being linked to the “meeting” in the Cape Town dressing room, have sent messages to management and sponsors to plead their innocence. With the depth of ill-feeling among the Australian cricket community continuing to grow, CA is said to be well aware it needs to take significant action.
A 12-month playing ban, imposed now, would be enough for both Smith and Warner to potentially return to the Australian team in time for next year’s World Cup campaign in the UK and the Ashes series which follows it.
If the pair’s CA and Indian Premier League deals are dumped they also face losing a combined $4 million, with individual sponsorships, worth millions of dollars more, in the balance.
Cricket Australia has contacted its major sponsors to assure them the matter is being dealt with the utmost urgency and seriousness.
Some, including the Commonwealth Bank, have demanded strong action.
“We are disappointed about the events that have emerged from the third Test in South Africa and have asked for a full explanation from Cricket Australia following the conclusion of its investigation into this affair,” a bank spokesman said.
No sponsors of the players or Cricket Australia have withdrawn their support yet, choosing to wait for the outcome of the investigation.
Life bans are available to CA as a penalty for the players under its code of behaviour, but that remains an unlikely outcome.
Mr Sutherland is expected to hand down penalties in Johannesburg before the Test.
“We know Australians want answers and we will keep you updated on our findings and next steps, as a matter of urgency,” he said.
Cricket Australia chairman David Peever said the board fully supported the actions taken by Mr Sutherland.
“We understand that everyone wants answers, but we must follow our due diligence before any further decisions are made,” Mr Peever said.