CRICKET, BASKETBALL

England beckons banned Test stars

STEVE Smith could return to first-class cricket as early as this month with the exiled Australian skipper pondering a county cricket stint.

A move to England could be the first stop in Smith’s long journey back to the Australian team. While he has been exiled from domestic and international cricket in Australia for the next 12 months, it is understood Cricket Australia would not stand in Smith’s way should he want to make a move to England.

The county season starts later this month. Fellow banned player Cameron Bancroft is also considering a county moved despite having being axed from Somerset following the ball tampering saga.

Smith and Dave Warner, who could also pursue opportunities in England, had their rich IPL contracts torn up, meaning the English Cricket Board would need to rubberstamp any moves by counties to sign the besieged trio. A potential move would also help the players in a bid to impress ahead of the 2019 Ashes campaign in England.

Smith is no stranger to playing domestic cricket in England. He skipped the final year of his schooling to play league cricket in England, going on to feature for Kent’s second XI. He holds an English passport — thanks to his London-born mother Gillian.

It may be difficult for Smith, Warner and Bancroft to secure opportunities for the entire county season but there are plenty of roster spots available for shorter-term stints in firstclass and Twenty 20.

Smith’s potential move comes as the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA) president Greg Dyer labelled the respective nine and 12 month bans as “disproportionate”.

He also backed reports that the players should be allowed to return earlier to domestic cricket. The players have until tomorrow to appeal their ban with the ACA providing assistance.

“Justice that is rushed can sometimes be flawed,” said Dyer, a former Test player.