Steven Smith and David Warner given green-light to play grade cricket in Sydney

05/10/2018

Tainted Australian pair Steven Smith and David Warner, who are currently serving a 12-month ban, have been cleared by Cricket Australia to participate in grade cricket in Sydney. New Australian coach Justin Langer has said the banned trio would be welcomed back if they met the team’s standards.

The entire world was stunned by the incident that took place during Australia's tour of South Africa, where the Australian trio of Steven Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were embroiled in a ‘ball-tampering’ saga. After a thorough investigation, the trio was issued sanctions from Australian cricket board for their roles in the incident. While skipper Smith and his deputy Warner received 12-month bans, Bancroft was handed a 9-month ban for his role.

As per the sanctions, the players would not be allowed to participate in any form of domestic or international cricket matches for the duration of their bans, but could practice grade cricket. The International Cricket Council issued a statement on the same recently.

"The ban meant the players wouldn't be allowed to play international and domestic cricket, but CA also explicitly stated that the players would be encouraged to play grade cricket," an ICC release said.

Smith and Warner consequently lost their IPL contracts with Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad while Bancroft's contract with an English county side was also canceled.

"Applying CA's sanctions, New South Wales Cricket Association (NSWCA) said they wouldn't stand in the way of Smith and Warner, ensuring they would be available to play for Sutherland and Randwick-Petersham, their respective club sides. The Western Australia District Cricket Council, however, unique in Australia's grade cricket system in that its committee is independent of the state body, will have the final word on Bancroft's involvement in Premier Cricket competitions this season," the release read.

Australia’s newly appointed head coach Justin Langer also added that the tainted trio will be considered for the national team provided they meet the standards set by the rest of the team and the management.

"(If) they want to keep getting better and they want to meet the standards of the Australian cricket team, then of course, they'll be welcomed back. When I think about Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith, besides Mike Hussey, they love the game more than anyone I know. They are cricket tragics and they're great kids. That's why it's such a surprise they made the mistake that they did. Davey Warner's the same, he's a really good young bloke. He made a mistake," Langer said.

Steven Smith and David Warner given green-light to play grade cricket in Sydney

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