Cricket Australia smashes for six speculation that ball-tampering trio’s suspensions will be reduced

A REDUCTION to the playing bans of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft has been ruled out by Cricket Australia chairman David Peever.

CRICKET AUSTRALIA chairman David Peever has ruled out any chance the playing bans for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft could be altered.

The trio were given hefty suspensions in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, with Smith and Warner banned for a year and Bancroft nine months.

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Their suspensions extended to international and state cricket, meaning they cannot even play in the Big Bash and are limited to playing club cricket this summer.

Smith and Warner have both played in T20 competitions in Canada and the Carribean which many perceived as an embarrassing situation for CA.

David Warner is limited to playing club cricket this summer.

Cameron Bancroft coped nine months for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal.

Steve Smith has still managed to play in T20 competitions in Canada and the Carribean.

There had been speculation that agitation within CA could move the bans to be softened, and the players could be allowed to take part in the Sheffield Shield and BBL.

But Peever knocked that on the head on Wednesday after confirming the appointment of new chief executive Kevin Roberts as a replacement for James Sutherland.

“The sanctions stand,” Peever said matter-of-factly.

Roberts also played the proverbial dead-bat to a question as to whether he believed Smith and Warner could return to the national team when their bans end.

“I’m not aware its part of the CEO job description to select our teams. That will be a matter for selectors,” the new CEO said.

David Warner’s firepower at the top of the Australian order has left a huge hole.

Roberts earned the wrath of Warner during last year’s ugly pay dispute when the banned opener accused Roberts of peddling “half truths” in a video posted by CA which effectively called the players greedy.

The video was released while Warner was with the Australian one-day team in England preparing for the Champions Trophy, which the Aussies exited before the finals with just one win.

“At the end of the day we’re here to win and if CA want to try and help us win I think they wouldn’t be releasing videos like that,” Warner said at the time.

Roberts was eventually supplanted in the pay discussions by Sutherland, who he now replaces as chief executive.

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