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These are uncertain times for Australian cricket – and the world.
Yet another senior official in the White House Jim Mattis, the US Defence Secretary, has walked away from President Trump. The Ukrainian parliament has erupted into an all-in brawl.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of a nuclear war that could wipe out civilisation, and China is accused of hacking global companies to steal trade secrets and technology.
Among it all, former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith admitted he walked away despite knowing about the plot to sandpaper the ball in Cape Town.
It was the biggest mistake of his life, and he’s paid dearly for it.
While the inmates are taking over the asylum in the northern hemisphere, Smith’s remorse yesterday in his first media conference in nine months, was a breath of fresh air.
The 12-month ban Smith, and David Warner, copped expires on March 28 next year, Cameron Bancroft’s nine-month ban ends in a week.
Smith was hit with a further ban of not being eligible to captain Australia again until 2020, while Warner’s not eligible for an executive position in any team for the remainder of his career.
Those bans were handed down by the Cricket Australia board that has subsequently been found guilty by an independent investigation of a win-at-all-costs to improve the corporate image, as against the culture of the team.
Fault of both sides.
To Smith’s credit, he was full of praise for new captain Tim Paine. To be fair, both Smith and Warner should be praised for the way they have handled their bans. They have played Sydney first grade cricket and held clinics to coach the budding young cricketers in their club’s districts.
For the do-gooders who want Smith and Warner banned for life because they were caught cheating, claiming Australians never cheat, they should be reminded of the constant offsides at the kick-off in rugby and rugby league. They need to remember the feeding of the league scrum under the second row’s feet. They need to take another look at the soccer dives to claim a penalty or a red card – or the interference of players away from the ball in AFL.
It’s all cheating.
What Smith and Warner did was inexcusable. They have done the crime, and are serving the time, but when that’s over, both are clean and should be welcomed back.
Cameron Bancroft of Australia talks to the umpire. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
Both are doing everything possible to restore the trust cricket fans had for them before the bans.
Despite the fact they haven’t played for nine months, Smith is still the third highest ranked Test batsman in the world, and Warner the sixth.
Their Test averages bear testimony to that. Smith’s 61.37 includes 23 centuries, and 24 half-centuries, while Warner’s 48.20 average has 21 centuries, and 24 half-centuries.
Their inclusion in the Ashes campaign next year will be a huge boost to overcome the fact the baggy greens haven’t won an Ashes series in England since 2001.
But with a top batting order of Warner, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, and Smith – and with an attack of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon – the Ashes promises to be one of the all-time great battles.
Who the two in the middle after Tim Paine will be won’t be answered until game time with Travis Head, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Labuschange, Michael Neser, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson, and a bolter in 19-year-old batsman Jason Sangha, all in the frame.