Cricket Australia chief clears air about David Warner's return after Smith, Bancroft revelations

Adam Gilchrist urged David Warner to clarify his side referring to Smith and Bancroft's tell-all interviews.

David Warner, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith are all currently serving ball-tempering bans | Getty Images

Cricket Australia (CA) chief Kevin Roberts has dismissed on Thursday (December 27) the explosive revelations about the ball-tampering scandal against David Warner and made it clear that the same could not affect the hard-hitting opener’s return to the international arena.

Recently, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith - the other two ball-tampering victims besides Warner, have given bombshell tell-all interviews that are clearly pointing the fingers at Warner.

Even Bancroft has openly called Warner the instigator of the plot to use sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball in Cape Town, saying he went along “to fit in” and because he “didn’t know any better”.

On the other hand, Smith refrained himself from the plot while admitting that he failed as a captain by turning a blind eye, saying: “I had the opportunity to stop it at that point rather than say, ‘I don’t want to know anything about it’.

Following the roasting comments, former Australian opener Michael Slater said, “In those comments, he has buried Dave Warner”, but Roberts insisted that would not affect Warner’s chance of being brought back into the Australian fold one the ball-tempering ban completed in March 2019.

Roberts told SEN Sports Radio in Melbourne on Thursday, “I don’t know if it does (make it harder for Warner). Our focus is to work with Dave, who I spoke to about three days ago, on his integration plan when he is eligible for selection again.

He further added on the same, “Our focus is on how we proactively look forward and work with the players, rather than be concerned with what has happened in the past.”

Meanwhile, Warner is yet to respond to the latest comments, Australian wicketkeeper legend Adam Gilchrist, who interviewed Bancroft and Smith for Fox Sports, urged him to come out with his side.

Gilchrist signed off by saying, “There’s no doubt Davey Warner would be feeling so isolated at the moment. I would encourage Dave to come out wherever and just be honest and as open as you need to be to get back to playing cricket.”

(With SEN Sports Radio Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 27 Dec, 2018

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