Warm welcome for banned trio

WELLINGTON: Amid the renewed noise around Australian cricket’s banned trio, the message from the test team dressing room is clear — they want them back.

Opener Aaron Finch has echoed the sentiments of national coach Justin Langer, saying the Australians will welcome back Steve Smith and David Warner with open arms.

Cameron Bancroft’s ban ends tomorrow when he returns with the Perth Scorchers and Finch also wished his fellow opener well.

Smith and Bancroft have given interviews that have reignited debate surrounding the Cape Town sandpaper debacle earlier this year.

While Warner has kept his own counsel so far, there is plenty of interest in what he might say, given he is painted as the ringleader of the sandpaper plot.

But Finch said Smith and Warner had earned their Australian recalls when they returned in three months.

‘‘When Davey and Steve are ready to make their — be allowed to come back and play cricket for Australia and their states — from my point of view they’ll be welcomed back with open arms,’’ Finch said.

‘‘Whatever’s happened, has happened.

‘‘The punishment has been dealt. They’ve been working really hard off the field to meet every criteria, and go above and beyond everything that has been asked of them, to come back and play international cricket again.’’

Meanwhile, Smith has had his ban from the sport lifted by Bangladeshi cricket officials so he can participate in the country’s T20 competition.

Smith will be free to play in the next edition of the Bangladesh Premier League, which gets under way in next month. The 29yearold was expected to join the Comilla Victorians in midJanuary as a replacement for Pakistan’s Shoab Malik. — AAP/NZME