Smith, Warner banned for 12 months

Smith, Warner banned for 12 months

David Warner and Steven Smith have been Australia’s best batsmen apart from their leadership roles. © Getty Images

Steven Smith and David Warner have been banned from playing domestic and international cricket for their country for 12 months as a result of an investigation into a damaging ball-tampering scandal, Cricket Australia announced on Wednesday (March 28).

Cameron Bancroft, the player who was caught actually tampering with the ball, has been banned from domestic and international cricket for nine months.

The trio has been charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct.

Both Smith and Bancroft will not be considered for leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the conclusion of their respective suspensions, while Warner, who has been charged with developing the entire plan, will not be considered to lead Australia at all in the future.

Charges against Smith:
(a) knowledge of a potential plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball;
(b) failure to take steps to seek to prevent the development and implementation of that plan;
(c) directing that evidence of attempted tampering be concealed on the field of play;
(d) seeking to mislead Match Officials and others regarding Bancroft’s attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball; and
(e) misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent and participants of the plan

The trio will be permitted to play club cricket and “will be encouraged to do so to maintain links with the cricket community,” stated the CA release. In addition, they will also have to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket.

“These are significant penalties for professional players and the Board does not impose them lightly,” said David Peever, Cricket Australia chairman. ”It is hoped that following a period of suspension, the players will be able to return to playing the game they love and eventually rebuild their careers.”

James Sutherland, the CA CEO, said the sanctions “are significant for the individuals involved.”

Charges against Warner:
(a) development of a plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball;
(b) instruction to a junior player to carry out a plan to take steps to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper;
(c) provision of advice to a junior player regarding how a ball could be artificially altered including demonstrating how it could be done;
(d) failure to take steps to seek to prevent the development and/or implementation of the plan;
(e) failure to report his knowledge of the plan at any time prior to or during the match;
(f) misleading Match Officials through the concealment of his knowledge of and involvement in the plan; and
(g) failure to voluntarily report his knowledge of the plan after the match

“That is why the process has had to be thorough to ensure that all relevant issues have been examined,” he said. “I am satisfied that the sanctions in this case properly reflect a balance between the need to protect the integrity and reputation of the game and the need to maintain the possibility of redemption for the individuals involved, all of whom have learned difficult lessons through these events.

“As indicated, Cricket Australia will provide more details of an independent review into the conduct and culture of our Australian men’s team in due course.” Sutherland concluded.

Over in India, the BCCI announced that neither Smith nor Warner would be eligible to play in Season 11 of the Indian Premier League, starting in 10 days’ time. Rajiv Shukla, the chairman of the IPL, said the two players had been banned for the season.

Charges against Bancroft:
(a) knowledge of the existence of, and being party to, the plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper;
(b) carrying out instructions to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball;
(c) seeking to conceal evidence of his attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball;
(d) seeking to mislead Match Officials and others regarding his attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball; and
(e) misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent, implementation and participants of the plan

Darren Lehmann, the coach, has been allowed to stay in his role because, CA said, he had no knowledge of the plot to alter the condition of the ball to produce more swing for bowlers.

If the player(s) accept the proposed sanctions, the matter will be deemed completed under the CA’s Code of Conduct process. If even one of the players disputes the charge of the sanction(s), there will be a hearing before a CA Commissioner. The player(s) can appeal the outcome of that hearing too, which will then come up before an Appeals Commissioner who is selected from the remaining CA Commissioners.