VAUGHAN SURE AUSSIES HAVE DONE IT BEFORE
■ Smith, Warner set to miss India series, IPL depends on NOC
Cape Town, March 27: Some Australian players want a “rogue” David Warner out of the team hotel in South Africa as the ball tampering saga threatened to rip the touring side apart, amid reports that suggested the opening batsman was the ring leader of the scandal. According to foxsports. au, several of Warner's furious teammates have asked Cricket Australia bosses to have the batsman removed from the team hotel, warning there could be an “incident” between Warner and angry players if he remains. Warner has also removed himself from a WhatsApp group comprising Australian players, with one source saying he has “gone rogue” since the ball tampering saga broke.
It’s believed several players in the Australian team were not aware of the tampering plot until damning footage of Cameron Bancroft with yellow tape appeared on the big screen. Warner was apparently drinking at the team hotel. Media reports said Warner spilled champagne at the bar. New Delhi, March 27: The disgraced Australian duo of Steve Smith and David Warner is not just staring at an ouster from IPL but is also also facing the prospect of missing the India series later this year, as speculations over a length ban for ball tampering gained credence.
Cricket Australia chiefs holding crisis talks in South Africa to deal with an escalating cheating scandal. Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland, under mounting pressure to come down hard on what Australian media has dubbed a “rotten” team culture, will give a press conference on Wednesday morning.
Sutherland is holding talks with CA integrity head Iain Roy, who is probing the balltampering scandal.
Reports say they could ban both Smith and vice- captain David Warner for 12 months and send them home in disgrace.
If it’s a one- year ban, which looks likely, the London, March 27: Michael Vaughan says he is “pretty sure” Australia were tampering with the ball during the recent Ashes series against England as cricket chiefs held crisis talks over the cheating scandal engulfing the sport.
“I can’t believe that this hasn't happened before,” Vaughan told the BBC. “I look at the amount of tape some of the fielders have worn, particularly during the Ashes series, mid- on, mid- off. ( You) don’t have to name names but they know who they are.
“I’m pretty sure that it was going on during the Ashes series. But it wasn't the reason why England lost 4- 0. They still would have lost that series.”
Joe Root, who captained in Australia, has said he saw no reason to suspect Australia of ball- tampering during the series.
Vaughan said Australia had broken an unwritten rule by taking an object onto the pitch to tamper with the ball even though he admitted many teams used “tricks” during matches.
“You’d see the ball get bounced into the rough to create reverse swing, you’d see sweets in the mouth, you’d see saliva put on the ball to try and keep that shine for longer,” said Vaughan.
“Is that right? Many will say not, but that's what has happened in the game of cricket for many, many years and will continue to happen, because it’s very hard to control.” home series against India in ( December- January) will be played without the two superstars. Already young opener Matt Renshaw has flown to Johannesburg, indicating that Warner will also not be a part of the final Test match against South Africa.
Another bone of contention is their Indian Premier League contracts with Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderbad. There is every possibility that Smith may seek time out of cricket to sort out the mess he is currently in but the same can’t be said about Warner, who is one of the greatest T20 exponents of all time.
While the BCCI is awaiting sanctions from Cricket Australia, the key to the decision will be the contents of the No Objection Certificates issued by their home board.
“What a lot of media channels are not understanding is that BCCI at this point has no right to terminate their contract. In case Cricket Australia has a clause in their contracts that gives them right to cancel the duo’s NOC for private leagues based on disrepute caused during international matches, then BCCI won’t even come into question. “They won’t get a chance to play IPL,” a senior BCCI official, who deals with contract aspect said.
“If CA’s ban is exclusive of NoC given to them for IPL, they will be available for the league,” said the official.
With Steve Smith banned for at least one Test and likely to face more punishment over the balltampering scandal, one of these five could become Australia’s next full- time captain.
Tim Paine
Was seen as a surprise choice when drafted in to replace Smith when he stood down as skipper for the remainder of the third Test in Cape Town after the ball tampering scandal erupted. The 33- year- old wicket- keeper had been a shock selection for the recent Ashes series against England after six years in the wilderness. But as an elder- statesman with a calm head, he could get the nod.
Mitchell Marsh