No reprieve for Warner, Smith BAN and Bancroft following review SET TO STAND

CRICKET Australia is unlikely to reopen its investigation into the ball-tampering scandal despite a call from the players’ union for the bans on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft to be lifted immediately.

In the wake of the damning Longstaff review, the Australian Cricketers’ Association has vowed to be “relentless” in its pursuit of getting the trio back on the field as soon as possible.

The ACA believes the review provided “independent verification that CA’s system and culture were contributing factors” to the Cape Town incident. The players’ body believes the report’s findings represented “significant matters” that were not considered at the time the sanctions were handed down in April.

“Yes, this moment of madness was ‘individual’ but now there is evidence and independent verification of system failure as well,” ACA president Greg Dyer (above) said. “This is hugely significant. With this new information, common sense ... and natural justice demand that the punishment is reduced. Let them play.”

The push was instigated by the players’ association, not the banned players, and will begin with a submission to the CA board, which has agreed to a meeting within the next 48 hours.

Both CA chairman David Peever and new chief executive Kevin Roberts have both said in recent days the bans would not be lifted. But the ACA believes it’s within the board’s power to lift the bans and hasn’t ruled out taking the matter further should its new request fall on deaf ears.

“We’re not saying what they did was right, and they’re contrite about that,” ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson said.

“But we believe the focus should be that the sanctions were handed down without the understanding of the climate and culture that the team were involved in.

“What we’re saying is their sentences with new evidence needs to now be recalibrated and reviewed. They’ve served their ICC bans, they’ve already been achieved.”

Former Test player George Bailey, who will captain the Prime Minister’s XI against South Africa on Wednesday, said there must be a “better way” to handle the fallout from the scandal and wanted the bans lifted.

“I can’t help but think those three guys could be having a really positive impact on domestic cricket,” he said.