Canada Global League: Steve Smith, David Warner take first steps on long road back

IT might be a tiny tournament, on a ground without a permanent grandstand, but Steve Smith and David Warner have been reunited to begin what’s being dubbed ‘The Redemption Tour’.

David Warner and Steve Smith in happier times. Picture: Brett Costello

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IT might be a tiny tournament, on a ground without a permanent grandstand, but Steve Smith and David Warner have been reunited in Canada to begin what’s being dubbed ”The Redemption Tour”.

For the first time since the turmoil in South Africa in late March, the deposed Australian captain and vice-captain are back sharing the same hallways and preparing to play cricket again for the first time since they were banned (from the top level) for 12 months over the ball-tampering scandal.

David Warner and Steve Smith in happier times. Picture: Brett Costello

The organiser of the quirky T20 “Global League” kicking off in Toronto on Thursday at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club believes Smith and Warner have a duty to repair the damage caused by the ball-tampering scandal — a responsibility he says the pair have actively embraced.

“The redemption tour starts with us,” says Jason Harper, the tournament director.

Smith trained yesterday with his new Toronto Nationals teammates at a local sports field without authentic pitches, where mats were laid down as temporary wickets for net practice.

Warner spent the night getting to know his new Winnipeg Hawks teammates, including Canadian locals like the country’s former captain, Rizwan Cheema.

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These are Smith and Warner’s first steps towards playing for Australia again, but they have involved a commitment to boosting the profile of cricket in a “minnow” nation where unheralded teenagers at ice hockey summer camps are far bigger news than the “Universe Boss” Chris Gayle touching down.

Despite the ban imposed by Cricket Australia and the magnitude of the fallout, Harper says he had no trepidation in headhunting Smith and Warner to headline his tournament.

“They were willing and interested. We pitched it to them about the growth of the game and the kids it can impact,” he said.

“When you break a moral code (as happened in Cape Town) you have a duty to fix it. And this is their first step to fixing it.

Toronto is hosting the first stop on Smith and Warner’s ‘Redemption Tour’.

“These are good young men who have made a mistake and we are working with them on that recovery tour.

“They’re world-class athletes and anybody would pay to see them perform.

“They’ve made a mistake. What’s next?

“We’ll use that narrative to help the kids understand that even if you fall down you can come back again.”

The Toronto mayor and local politicians and business leaders congregated for the Canada Global League launch last night at a square in downtown Toronto.

Players from all six franchise teams have been squeezed into the same hotel, which is also being shared by the Cincinnati soccer team, in town to take on Toronto.

Blues allrounder Moises Henriques is also playing in Canada. Picture: David Swift.

Workers have been pulling 18-hour days to build temporary facilities to seat 7000 fans at the local cricket club.

Smith plays his first match back on Thursday in the tournament opener against Gayle’s Vancouver Knights.

Warner returns to action on Friday, before the long-time Australian teammates come face to face in a match between Toronto and Winnipeg on Monday.

Fellow big-name Australians Moises Henriques and Peter Siddle have been last-minute additions to the tournament and will head up the Montreal team being coached by Tom Moody.

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Originally published as Canada Global League: Steve Smith, David Warner take first steps on long road back