By Dylan Sullivan
Australia’s three shamed cricketers are planning to launch legal actions this week which will ensure the ball-tampering scandal continues
The Australian Cricketers’ Association are angry at the disciplinary process and haste with which Cricket Australia took action following pressure from the Australian public and the week for cricket. The ACA has also said the punishments are far heavier than ICC regulations for ball tampering. David Warner has received the harshest verdict of the three players implicated, with CA ruling that he was guilty of manipulating a junior player, in Bancroft, and that he demonstrated to his team-mate how to scuff up the ball with sandpaper.
As a result, Australia’s players’ union has called for a reduction in the bans handed out to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for their part in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last week, describing them as “disproportionate”.
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Former captain Smith and former vice captain Warner were handed 12-month bans, and batsman Bancroft suspended for nine months by Cricket Australia after the latter was caught using a piece of sandpaper on the ball in the third test in Cape Town. i culpability led to the CA ruling that he was guilty of manipulating a junior player, in Bancroft. Warner is also accused of demonstrating to his team-mate how to scuff up the ball
“The proposed penalties are disproportionate relative to precedent,” Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) president Greg Dyer told a news conference in Sydney last Tuesday. “We ask that consideration be given to recalibrating the proposed sanctions, to consider options such as suspending or reducing part of the sanction.
On Tuesday, the Australian Cricket Association called for the bans to allow the men to return to domestic action sooner, citing past precedent as his basis for a re-consideration. He said that of the dozen or so previous cases the ACA had studied, the most severe punishment was a ban for two one-day internationals.
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“These proposed penalties are disproportionate relative to precedent,” Dyer said.
Dyer pointed to the International Cricket Council sanction, which suspended Smith for one Test and docked him his match fee after he admitted responsibility for the ball-tampering scandal.
He also said the contrition expressed by players has been “extraordinary” and should be taken into account. Describing their part in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last week as “disproportionate”., he argued that they were unjust. “These proposed penalties are disproportionate relative to precedent,” Dyer said.
Dyer pointed to the International Cricket Council sanction, which suspended Smith for one Test and docked him his match fee after he admitted responsibility for the ball-tampering scandal.
He also said the contrition expressed by players has been “extraordinary” and should be taken into account.
APPEAL
The players have until Thursday to appeal against their bans, decisions Dyer believed were “imminent” but “highly personal” to be decided by the players with their own legal counsel. The trio returned to Australia at the end of last week, with all three giving emotional news conferences where they accepted responsibility for their actions with none suggesting they might appeal.
Smith and Warner were also stripped of their leadership positions, and stand to lose millions with sponsors after they were dropped last week. The bans cost them $1.85 million Indian Premier League contracts for this season. Smith and Bancroft were banned from holding leadership positions within the Australian team for two years, while Warner will never be able to hold such a position again.
The harsher penalty for Warner reflects the findings of the Cricket Australia investigation which alleged the opening batsman was the chief instigator of the plot to cheat. The players have until Thursday to appeal against their bans. Dyer says the appeals were “imminent” but “highly personal” to be decided by the players with their own legal counsel.
The trio returned to Australia at the end of last week, all three giving emotional news conferences where they accepted responsibility for their actions with none suggesting they might appeal.Smith and Warner, who were also stripped of their leadership positions, stand to lose millions of dollars in earnings with sponsors dropping them last week and the bans costing them $1.85 million Indian Premier League contracts for this season.
BANNED
Smith and Bancroft were banned from holding leadership positions within the Australian team for two years, while Warner will never be able to hold such a position again.
The harsher penalty for Warner reflects the findings of the Cricket Australia investigation which alleged the opening batsman was the chief instigator of the plot to cheat.
Smith’s evasion of questions relating to the disgraceful scandal, has prompted much speculation about whether he had tampered in previous matches, but Warner neglected on several occasions to elaborate on the debacle that exposed him and his comerades.
In a tearful first press conference since his 12 months suspension and bar from any future leadership role with his country, the former vice-captain dodged questions about his precise role in ‘Sandpaper-gate’ and about who else, if anybody, was involved.
Warner broke down repeatedly as he accepted that, he would never represent Australia again. The opening batsman has received the harshest verdict of the three players implicated, with CA ruling that he was guilty of manipulating a junior player, in Bancroft. Warner is also accused of demonstrating to his team-mate how to scuff up the ball with sandpaper. The revelation has led to suspicions as to whether he had tampered in previous matches. Disappointingly, Warner refused to clarify what happened. Plans for legal action is interesting, but it is doubtful it will produce much results.
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