Cricket Australia thinking about reducing bans of the trio: CA pondering over reducing bans of Smith, Warner and Bancroft.
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The sea-saw battle between the decision of letting the banned trio of Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft make a comeback into the game before the scheduled time continues as Cricket Australia is now considering option through which the respective bans can be reduced.
The intriguing aspect about the reduction in the bans is that if that happens, whether the players will only be allowed to play the Sheffield Shield or the KFC Big Bash League or will also be allowed to take part in the imminent tour of India, which commences on November 21.
Other than letting them play, there are also apprehensions about whether the duo will be handed back the captaincy roles or not. Before being banned, Smith was leading the team while Warner was serving as his deputy. While Smith is currently not allowed to captain Australia till 2020, Warner was barred off the same for life.
If the duo is allowed to return to the same roles, it will undoubtedly be a massive turnaround on the part of Cricket Australia.
Since the release of the Cultural Review, news of reduction of the bans have been doing the rounds without much confirmation. Apparently, it is the Australian Cricketers’ Association which is adamant on the players returning to competitive cricket ‘immediately’.
If reports are to be believed, Cricket Australia is expected to consider all the possible options in the next 48 hours or so.
If the trio is allowed to take part in the BBL (starting on December 18), it might be unfair on Bancroft as his ban is scheduled to end on December 28. While he would have served his full ban, the others in Smith and Warner would have had a three-month reduction each.
The development has not gone well with some of the fans and former cricketers for they believe that since the trio decided not to contest the bans, they accepted that they were guilt and hence reducing or removing the bans now would be like shying away from your stance.
Former Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson took to social media platform Twitter to express his opinion about the same. In his tweet, Johnson laid emphasis on the fact that the ‘bans should stay’. Read his tweet below:
I thought 3 players were banned 🤔So does that mean Cameron Bancroft’s ban will be reduced to the same amount as Smith & Warner if it goes ahead? They all accepted their bans & didn’t contest it so I think the bans should stay https://t.co/9IoCfjl3P5
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) November 18, 2018
Read some of the other Twitter reactions on the same below:
The Cricket Australia board will soon decide if the ball tampering bans placed on @stevesmith49 , @davidwarner31 and@cbancroft4 should be reduced. @AyrtonWoolley is LIVE. #9News pic.twitter.com/cwupCyuEoU
— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) November 19, 2018
Cricket Australia discussing whether ball-tampering bans should be reduced: Reportshttps://t.co/5Nlc326Lc8 pic.twitter.com/q6eahe7XxX
— The Field (@thefield_in) November 19, 2018
Going to the #T20 on Sunday? Plan your way there with public transport! Reminder – the bus stop Moore Park Busway near @SCG is closed. Use the stop Moore Park Busway at Lang Rd instead. https://t.co/CCbOzRXhW6
— Buses East (@BusesEast) November 19, 2018
“It will be the big story this week.”
Gerard Healy’s plea to Cricket Australia » https://t.co/bda2b3H8TD pic.twitter.com/KN5RXqrNRp
— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) November 19, 2018