CRICKET: THE CHEATING AUSSIES ARE BACK!
Smith and Warner’s bans end after sandpaper shame
IF THE words coming out of the Australian camp are to be believed, the return to civilised society of Steve Smith and David Warner will leave barely a dry eye in the house.
Both men will appear during the first three days of this year’s IPL, which begins today. But Australian cricket has a more symbolic date in mind.
On March 29, the pair are eligible once more to represent their country, after a year spent playing franchise cricket and repenting for their part in the sandpaper scandal in Cape Town.
But while Cameron Bancroft, who was banned for nine months, was the one who tried to rough up the ball and dispose of the evidence down his trousers, it is Smith and Warner who have embodied Australian cricket’s journey from all manner of hell and damnation towards some sort of forgiveness.
At a meeting with team-mates this week in Dubai, Warner spoke of ‘open arms and lots of big hugs and cuddles’. There is relief in the Australian dressing room that their two best batsmen are back in plenty of time for the World Cup and the Ashes — and possibly some apprehension, too.
Sandpaper gate is gone, but it will not be easily forgotten.
The two prodigal sons, plus coach Justin Langer, are talking a good game. Warner declared: ‘It’s like we didn’t really leave.’ Smith added: ‘Everything is on the right track.’ And according to the perennially upbeat Langer: ‘It’s like two brothers coming back home.’
Of greater significance is Warner’s acceptance that attitudes have to change. Central to the widespread glee that greeted Australia’s downfall was their apparent belief that they were above the law. Warner, once the attackdog-in-chief, concedes he’ll have to make sure ‘we are aligned with the team values moving forward’.
Australian cricket is in no mood for more nonsense — especially now their team are starting to look the part again.
In the aftermath of Cape Town, and with the less combative Tim Paine now in charge, misery had followed misery: a 3-1 defeat in the Tests in South Africa, a 5-0 one- day drubbing in England, Test and T20 series defeats against Pakistan in the UAE, a home one- day defeat by South Africa, then their first home Test series defeat by India.
Paine was quickly removed as one- day captain, and Australia became what they have rarely been throughout their history: a laughing stock.
But the worm is threatening to turn. They disposed of Sri Lanka in two home Tests earlier this year, then came from 2-0 down to win a one-day series in India.
On the one hand, the return of two batsmen who between them boast over 22,500 international runs ought to ensure Australia’s results keep going in the right direction. On the other, it means disruption at the precise moment they crave stability. Both men will slot straight back into the Test team for the Ashes, which begin in August. But the World Cup line-up is less clear.
With Warner likely to p partner one- day captain Aaron Finch at the top of the order, Usman Khawaja might have to drop to No 3 — despite scoring 104, 91 and 100 in India.
Smith will have to justify his place at No 4, having failed to reach 50 in any of his seven one-day innings before his ban.
Reintegrating the two players into the squad may not be straightforward. Smith and Bancroft have made it clear they regard Warner as the driving force behind the sandpaper plot. And the pair will attract plenty of attention during their summer in England, and not all of it will be edifying.
A difficult year is coming to an end for Australia, but an uncertain one is about to begin. AARON FINCH smashed 116 off 135 balls to lead Australia to an eight-wicket win over Pakistan with six balls to spare in the first ODI yesterday. Shaun Marsh hit an unbeaten 91 as the world champions reached 281- 2 in 49 overs.