Smith won’t fight ban as Warner stays silent

Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft have accepted the bans imposed by Cricket Australia following the Cape town ball-tampering scandal but David Warner, the deposed vicecaptain, is yet to reveal his hand.

Smith, who will not be allowed to play international or domestic cricket for 12 months and cannot assume a leadership role for another year after his return, wrote on twitter: ‘i would give anything to have this behind me and be back representing my country.

‘But i meant what i said about taking full responsibility as captain of the team. i won’t be challenging the sanctions. they’ve been imposed by CA to send a strong message and i have accepted them.’

Bancroft, banned for nine months for applying sandpaper to the ball then lying about what he had done, also used twitter to make clear his position. ‘i would love to put this behind me and will do whatever it takes to earn back the trust of the Australian public,’ he said.

Only Warner, who faces a year out of the game, declined to comment. After an emotional press conference in Sydney on Saturday, he used social media to promise he would answer questions ‘in the proper place and at the proper time’.

two questions above all hang in the air. Was this the first time Australia tampered with the ball? And did only three players know about the plan? Warner was offered the chance to ease concerns and failed to take it.

the worst- case scenario for the Australian game is that Warner, sensing he is being cut adrift, will take others down with him. At best, he may simply challenge his lifetime ban from any leadership role.

either way, Australian cricket will not be able to move on until their former vice-captain has explained his position.

On tuesday, the Australian cricketers’ union had called the bans ‘disproportionate’, urging CA to reduce them. All three players will be available for next year’s World Cup and Ashes in england.