Cricket Australia face dilemma on David Warner, Steve Smith return
Cricket Australia’s board is set to face another extraordinary decision over how and when to reboot Steve Smith and David Warner.
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Cricket Australia’s board is set to face another extraordinary decision over how and when to reboot Steve Smith and David Warner.
It was originally thought the duo would simply be exiled from all international cricket until the World Cup starts in late May, but the dates for a preparatory one-day tour against Pakistan now look like being shifted back to the point where at least two games might be scheduled for after the bans expire.
This creates an agonising predicament for coach Justin Langer, selectors and the board who must walk the tightrope of adhering to the strict 12-month international sanctions which end on March 29 and maximising their precious World Cup practice.
It seems unthinkable that the CA board would consider allowing Smith and Warner back a week early to play the whole tour after so publicly rebuking the Australian Cricketers Association’s bid for a reduction of the sanctions.
But the question is, would they allow their two biggest stars to return midway through a series in the interests of giving the two stars and the team the best possible international warm-up before the World Cup defence begins?
LISTEN! Listen to the entire Steve Smith media conference and his responses to questions around Sandpapergate.
The major complicating factor is that despite featuring in a couple of ad hoc net sessions against rested fast bowlers over the past month, Smith and Warner are also in fact banned from training with the actual Australian squad.
That means they wouldn’t be able to make the trip to the UAE until March 29, or would have to train in isolation until that point.
A final decision is yet to be made, and it’s likely the Board will be consulted, but the early feeling is Australia will not consider Smith and Warner available for selection, particularly because they have the alternative of simply allowing them to begin the high-class Indian Premier League uninterrupted at the same time.
As good as Smith and Warner are, it remains a major risk for them to make their landmark international returns from 12 months in the wilderness in an actual World Cup match.
Playing two internationals against Pakistan is far from ideal, but it must be tempting for selectors.
It’s understood some players would prefer to be allowed to play the full IPL as their World Cup lead-in, but Cricket Australia will order all players to pull out early for unofficial warm-ups against a weakened New Zealand outfit that is keeping their stars in the Indian league.
Smith has also had his Bangladesh Premier League contract collapse on him, leaving him with even less top class match play before the World Cup.
However, he believes he can return a better, and mentally stronger player no matter what his lead-in is.
“ … There’s the PSL (Pakistan Super League) and the IPL which I think is adequate preparation for the World Cup if I’m selected.
“The way the one-day game is playing it’s almost an extended T20 so T20 cricket is a good way to prepare. The IPL is one of the best leagues and what I’ve heard of the Pakistan league it’s high quality.
“I’ve been working hard at my game, concentrating on a few weaknesses, things I won’t share as I don’t want people to know them, but I want to come make better.
“This nine months has been a big learning curve for me, a year out of the game to mentally refresh and get myself in a good head space to go again. Hopefully I can play at a better standard than when I got banned.”
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Originally published as Cricket Australia face dilemma on David Warner, Steve Smith return
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