Smith, Warner and Bancroft to serve full length of ball-tampering ban
Cricket Australia has rejected a submission by the players' union to cut the bans imposed on Steve Smith, David Warner & Cameron Bancroft.
Steve Smith and David Warner will not return to top-level cricket until the current home is completed after the Cricket Australia Board unanimously agreed not to alter penalties imposed over the ball-tampering incident.
Cameron Bancroft's ban for attempting to alter the ball with sandpaper is due to expire on December 29 while Smith and Warner must wait until March 29 to play for their country again.
The three players were charged, and found to be in breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct in that their conduct during the third Test against South Africa last March, when sandpaper was taken on to the field with the intent of altering condition of the ball:
• was contrary to the spirit of the game;
• was unbecoming of a representative or official;
• is or could be harmful to the interests of cricket;
• and/or did bring the game of cricket into disrepute
After the Board announced the 12-month bans for Smith and Warner (as well as restrictions on the pair's future eligibility for future team leadership roles) and nine months for Bancroft, the trio were afforded the opportunity to appeal the penalties and put their case to an independent commissioner.
However, they waived their right to engage in that process and agreed to accept the punishments as handed down by the Board.
The Australian Cricketers' Association submitted an appeal last month, arguing that the blame attributed to CA by the independent review was grounds to have the bans lifted with the trio "punished enough".
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