Report : Steve Smith, David Warner likely to appeal for reduction to their one-year bans

After ICC decided to suspended Steve Smith and David Warner following the admission of their involvement in the pre-meditated ball-tampering saga during Newlands Test, Cricket Australia took it upon itself to punish them and make an example out of the two. Consequently, the BCCI decided to bar the duo from IPL while Cameron Bancroft saw his contract with Somerset getting rebuked as well.

The ban given to Smith and Warner has been considered by many as too harsh given that the rulings could force them to take up formal hearings and also covered suspension in both domestic and international cricket. And recent reports by Cricinfo have claimed that all the three players are likely to challenge it.

“The advisors to Smith, Warner, and Bancroft - all three have retained legal counsel in addition to their respective managers Warren Craig, James Henderson and Trent Ovens - are believed to be determined that the scope of the bans is too wide, given that the offences took place when playing for Australia, and that two players had already been penalised by the ICC,” as per ESPNCricinfo.

“Additionally, they believe that not being able to play first-class cricket over the next 12 months is likely to hamper the trio’s ability to press for Australian selection when their bans lapse. Smith and Warner would not be eligible until the end of next year’s Sheffield Shield competition, while Bancroft would be ruled out until after Christmas 2018,” the report further stated.

Quite interestingly, when the ban was first handed out, it was unclear whether the three of them would be allowed to play club cricket outside Australia. 

“Under the code we didn’t have any clear authority over domestic matches played overseas. It was talked about but we ascertained based on the legal advice that we didn’t have that clear authority,” CA’s CEO James Sutherland had said in a statement.

Another unclear statement also read, “All three players will be permitted to play club cricket and will be encouraged to do so to maintain links with the cricket community. In addition, all three players will be required to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket.”

It remains to be seen whether the trio would opt for a private hearing and if their domestic cricket restrictions would get lifted at all.