David Warner could be banned from fourth test as Cricket Australia prepare to hand out landmark sanctions
DAVID Warner is set to be banned by Cricket Australia for the fourth Test and likely beyond as he and Steve Smith face the prospect of a multi-million dollar expulsion from the Indian Premier League.
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DAVID Warner is set to be banned by Cricket Australia for the fourth Test and likely beyond as he and Steve Smith also face the prospect of a multi-million dollar expulsion from the Indian Premier League.
Cricket Australia chiefs headed by James Sutherland are preparing to hand down landmark punishments on Wednesday morning in Cape Town in response to the explosive revelations of cheating, with captain Steve Smith, Daren Lehmann, Warner and Cameron Bancroft all in the eye of the storm.
As well as almost certainly being stripped of their leadership positions, there is also the prevailing feeling Smith and Warner face lengthy suspensions from international cricket which could include the lucrative IPL where they both stand to pocket $2.4 million.
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It’s understood there are serious discussions going on behind closed doors in India about whether Smith and Warner – captains of their respective franchises Rajasthan and Hyderabad – should be allowed to compete in next month’s tournament at all.
If Cricket Australia rub Smith and Warner out for longer than just the one Test match in Johannesburg – which is anticipated – the span of the suspension will cross over into the period of the IPL.
The BCCI and franchises would be hesitant about going against CA’s ruling, although it might not even come to that if Cricket Australia were to exercise their right to refuse Smith and Warner permission to play in the IPL – a measure which is well within their power.
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Cricket Australia are furious at the premeditated level of the cheating and chief executive Sutherland last night boarded a plane to Johannesburg to deal directly with his investigators on the ground Pat Howard and Iain Roy.
There is absolutely no love lost between the Cricket Australia board and the players – but Warner in particular – over last year’s pay dispute saga, and they are preparing to throw the book.
Shane Warne was banned by the Australian Cricket Board for 12 months for taking a banned diuretic tablet back in 2003 and the governing body has also come down just as hard on players in more recent times for betting on cricket.
Smith and Lehmann are seen as ultimately culpable given the leadership positions they hold in the Australian set-up, but Warner is being fingered as a central figure.
“Iain Roy and Pat Howard arrive in Cape Town this morning local time, and Iain will immediately conduct his inquiries around the specifics of the ball tampering incident,” said Sutherland.
“I will arrive (in Johannesburg) Tuesday morning local time to meet Iain to understand the findings of the investigation to that point, and to determine recommended outcomes.
“We know Australians want answers and we will keep you updated on our findings and next steps, as a matter of urgency.”
Cricket Australia Chairman David Peever confirmed punishments would be handed down no later than Wednesday morning.
Questions will be asked by head of integrity Roy and head of team performance Howard as to why Warner was relieved of his customary ‘ball shiner’ duties for the third Test in Cape Town, only to be replaced by the youngest member of the side, Cameron Bancroft.
Warner’s heavily taped hands were the subject of mass scrutiny from television cameras during the second Test in Port Elizabeth as South African players and broadcasters suspected ball tampering from the Australians was at play.
Lehmann’s level of involvement in this specific ball tampering incident is unknown, however, as coach, his position would appear untenable amid such an unmitigated crisis.
Major sponsors are already threatening Cricket Australia with huge financial ramifications if heavy action isn’t taken.
No punishment could be more severe for Smith and Warner than being dethroned from the leadership and suspended from international cricket.
However, being blackballed from the IPL would also have an enormous impact on the pair given their future earning potential at over $2 million per year.
Smith’s image is already tarnished in India after he was busted breaking the rules during last year’s Test series when he looked to the coaching box for assistance on a DRS referral, an explosive incident which prompted an ugly war of words with Indian captain Virat Kohli.
Rajasthan are eager to avoid any further controversy given they’re returning from a two-year ban over spot fixing and it’s understood Smith is on extremely thin ice.
Originally published as David Warner could be banned from fourth test as Cricket Australia prepare to hand out landmark sanctions
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