Stick with ball-tampering bans for trio: Siddle
PLAY AUSTRALIA’S NO.1 CRICKET FANTASY GAME TEST paceman Peter Siddle wants the ball-tampering bans to remain in place, arguing the unprecedented punishments will ultimately help clean up cricket.
The players’ union, wielding Monday’s scathing independent report that suggested Cricket Australia shoulder some of the responsibility for the sandpaper scandal, has launched a campaign for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft’s suspensions to be lifted immediately.
Several high-profile former cricketers have backed the push but Siddle, who played both Tests in the UAE last month, isn’t convinced.
“You always want to see them playing cricket but I think … the punishments are there for a reason,” Siddle told reporters yesterday.
“They understood the reasons why they got those punishments so I think … it comes down to them, obviously, serving them out, copping the penalty.
“And it’s very close to them being back. They’ve still been playing cricket around world, staying fit.”
Earlier this year, Siddle took part in the Canadian Twenty20 competition that doubled as the first leg of Smith and Warner’s comeback tour.
“Obviously I’m close mates with them and we’d like to see them out there but, also, hopefully their punishments can be something moving forward,” the the Victorian veteran said.
“Like JL (Australia coach Justin Langer) spoke about last night, hopefully it does clean up the game and make it for the good of the game.”
Langer detailed on Fox Sports how he was sad, angry and shocked by the Cape Town saga but also highlighted how tampering is “an international problem”.