Steve Smith, David Warner Set To Return To The Cricket Field

Steve Smith and David Warner were found guilty of tampering with the cricket ball during the third day of the Cape Town Test against South Africa

By: Aakash Biswas |
May 10, 2018 7:54 pm

Almost a month after being banned to play for the national side for a year, former Australian skipper Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner got some relieving news from Cricket Australia. Both the ace cricketers have received a clean-chit to appear for grade cricket in the time they are away from the national side. On the other hand, the decision on Cameron Bancroft’s presence in club cricket is yet to be taken.

As reported by cricket.com.au, the Western Australia District Cricket Council (WADCC) has a clause which states that if any cricketer is suspended by the WACA, their club association or Cricket Australia, he is “automatically disqualified from participating in WADCC Competitions for the duration of that suspension.” Thus, Cameron Bancroft has no chance to play because of the same.

ALSO READ: Mohit Sharma Goes For KXIP’s Training Session On Superbike

Since WADCC is independent of the state body, the committee members will sit on May 14 to take a decision on whether Bancroft gets to play in its competitions.

On the other hand, the New South Wales Cricket Association (NSWCA) has chosen the other way out. It has been understood from the reports that the NSWCA has agreed to enact CA’s sanctions, which explicitly allow Smith and Warner to play premier cricket. However, it has to be noticed that neither Smith nor Warner will be leading their clubs Sutherland and Randwick-Petersham respectively.

ALSO READ: Ishan Kishan Reveals How MS Dhoni Helped Him Score 2nd Fastest Fifty This Season

All three above-mentioned cricketers were found guilty of tampering with the cricket ball with a sandpaper during the third day of the Cape Town Test against South Africa. Following their bans, their other projects were automatically terminated.

ALSO READ: Is Chris Gayle Sparking A Friendly Rivalry With Hardik Pandya & Virat Kohli?

Smith and Warner were scheduled to play in the eleventh edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) as captains of Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively. After the ban, they were restricted from playing in the IPL while Bancroft was replaced at Somerset in the County Championship by fellow Australian opener Matt Renshaw.