CA chief Kevin Roberts says decision not to reduce bans give stars clarity

Cricket Australia’s new chief is in Antigua ahead of the national women’s team’s world T20 final, but the issue of banned stars Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft was front and centre.

Steve Smith in action for Sutherland in Sydney district cricket. Randwick-Petersham’s David Warner fields on the boundary. Pic Jenny Evans

New Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts says he’s spoken with banned players Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft following the board’s decision not to reduce the sanctions imposed after sandpaper-gate in Cape Town and says the trio handled the outcome with maturity.

Roberts is in Antigua to support the Australian women’s team, which on Sunday is playing for its fourth World T20 title

Roberts said the CA board wanted to “sincerely reconsider” the sanctions and he felt comfortable the right decision was made.

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“They were all really mature about it,” Roberts said.

“They’ve been under a huge amount of pressure and scrutiny, so I think if nothing else for that decision to be confirmed it gives them an opportunity to start looking forward, rather than looking back.

Former Aussie Test captain Steve Smith and David Warner will have to wait to make their returns to first-class cricket. Pic: AFP

“As much as I’m sure that they might have wanted to have come back earlier, at least now they know, they’ve got confirmation of that date.”

Roberts hasn’t spoken to the trio’s Australian teammates about the board’s decision, but he informed coach Justin Langer and captains Tim Paine and Aaron Finch before it was made public.

Former skipper Smith can return to the international field on March 30, but cannot be considered for the captaincy for a further 12 months.

Roberts said it was too early to say if Smith would be captain again.

“I’m really happy with the leadership qualities of Tim Paine and Aaron Finch in the respective formats,” he said.

Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts. Pic: AAP

“We really owe them the respect of the empowerment that comes with clear air, so for me or anyone else to speculate about Steve wouldn’t really afford our captains the space that they need to lead the team.

“But in time, who knows … It’ll be great to see Steve Smith back playing for Australia, so we’ll just take that one step at a time.”

Roberts acknowledged the men’s early-season schedule — with four matches against South Africa and now a T-20 series against India before the Test series kicks off in Adelaide on December 6 — had been far from ideal.

“What we’ve seen the last couple of weeks on the men’s side of the game has been one of these really challenging periods where we’ve had three ODIs, we’ve had a T20 international and we go pretty quickly into a Test match,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone would pretend that that’s an ideal scenario. It was the most workable scenario under these circumstances.

Australian star Pat Cummins with Smith last week. Pic: Getty Images

“The schedule by-in-large is laid out for the next few years, but within that I would like to sit down with that and with the experts and have a good think about ‘how do we optimise it?’.

Roberts has been an ardent campaigner for the women’s game and he said he was excited for the side’s World T20 title quest.

“To see the way they carry themselves on and off the field, you can’t help but be proud and be associated with them,” he said.

“They’re just outstanding Australians.”