Cameron Bancroft’s nine-month ban imposed by Cricket Australia ends Saturday, and there is an expectation that his comeback via the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League could come as soon as their match in Launceston on Sunday against the Hobart Hurricanes.
It will mark a significant moment in the redemption of the players caught up in the ball-tampering scandal back in March, and with Steve Smith and David Warner’s suspensions now entering their final months.
Regardless of whether it happens on Sunday or not, how the Scorchers manage Bancroft back into the Australian cricket limelight will be interesting.
What is also interesting is that both Smith and Bancroft have had their say in recent days. Their version of events in Cape Town are now out there on the public record, and while their stories are slightly different and don’t have to be in complete sync, they certainly don’t contradict each other, either.
Smith admitted that he walked past a troubling conversation between Bancroft and Warner that he could have stopped, and he didn’t.
“I didn’t particularly know that it was going to happen but at that point I said, ‘I don’t want to know about it’,” he told Fox Sports.
Bancroft outlined how his desperation to fit in – the Newlands Test was his eighth – put him in a scenario that had him agreeing to conspire with a senior team-mate.
For what it’s worth, saying he “didn’t know any better” is a bit of a vague cop-out from Bancroft, in my humble opinion.
You knew and still know that Laws of Cricket, Cameron; and even if it’s mostly fictional, you knew and still know that taking a foreign object to the ball for the purposes of affecting the way it flies through the air is very much against the Spirit of the game, too. You did know better; you had to have.
Ricky Ponting criticising Fox Sports for choosing to air the interviews on Boxing Day smacks of the Seven Network being dirty they didn’t have the exclusive themselves.
Michael Slater’s criticism of Bancroft effectively throwing Warner under the bus has merit – but his suggestion that Bancroft and Smith have strategized to “bury” Warner is the laughable ramblings of someone sticking up for a mate.
Warner, perhaps surprisingly, is yet to have his say.
But when he does, Cricket Australia is going to have yet another crisis to deal with.
Senior News Limited journo Robert Craddock nails it: “The situation (Cricket) Australia fears most is dropping Warner then having him unleash with a tell-all interview that exposes other key people in Australia,” he wrote yesterday.
(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
CA’s own investigation had already fingered Warner; in this regard, the Bancroft revelations aren’t huge.
And indeed, Warner being identified as the chief architect of the saga was the reason CA banned him from any leadership position in any Australian side, should he be recalled, for life.
But CA cannot let the situation to develop, such that Warner giving a version of events could drive a permanent wedge through the Australian team.
Though all the senior figures involved in the investigations and the handing down of punishments have mostly moved on, it’s imperative that CA clarify exactly where Warner sits in all this.
If Bancroft’s version of events matches exactly what their investigations found – and it appears that it does currently – CA needs to reiterate this.
If Bancroft has provided insights previously not known, that needs to be conceded.
And if CA believes Warner is being ostracised further than their own investigations and penalties decided, then they need to stand up for him.
In theory, all three players will be available for the World Cup and the Ashes Tour of England next year.
In reality, Smith is the only one of the three who commands an immediate recall. And he will. I have no doubt at all that Smith will play the first Test he is available for.
Bancroft, on the other hand, is a talented batsman, but is he definitely going to make the Australian side better than Marcus Harris, or even Matt Renshaw at the top of the order? And therefore, what will he need to do to be in the frame for a recall?
Warner’s Test record is impressive, but given CA’s own findings and penalties, how will he be measured against Justin Langer and Tim Paine’s new character-driven regime? And that being the case, how can they guarantee Warner gets a fair hearing at the selection table?
Cricket Australia needs to remove any remaining ambiguity around this, and this will be difficult, because as it currently stands, it’s hard to see how Warner’s exile from the game ends with everything that’s been revealed to date.
And if they do genuinely want him back playing the game, what will they do to ensure it’s a smooth return?
CA didn’t handle this whole saga particularly well from its outset.
But an otherwise unremarkable Twenty20 game in Tasmania could present a surprise opportunity for the body to regain some control.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
"As one of the few people on this forum who does not have a “win at all costs” view of life". Nice to know you look down on everyone else in this forum and consider yourself above reproach. The fact is they did the wrong thing and they were caught and punished dramatically worse than anyone else in the history of the game has ever been penalised for remotely comparable offenses. Really, they probably should have done what Warner has largely to now and just kept their mouths shut. But when their time is served, they should be back. There will be very definite understanding of what is and isn't acceptable, and they will have to fit within that, and I suspect they will without a problem.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It's pretty clear the team isn't performing better without Warner! Those same bowlers and the current coach were pretty happily hanging around him and having a net with him not that long ago. I think it's a bit of a myth that his team mates have an issue with him.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I still think this will likely all be moot as I reckon Warner won't say anything, he'll just continue quietly going about his business, I think that he's not "on the nose" with team mates as lots of people like to suggest, and that he'll be welcomed back without an issue as soon as his ban ends, just like Smith will. I can't believe for a second that Langer and co didn't know exactly what Bancroft and Smith were going to come out with before they gave their interviews, and therefore if they were happy to be working towards the re-integration of Warner before those interviews, as certainly seems the case, it's hard to see those interviews actually changing anything.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
That doesn't mean he didn't write it. I know many people who are quite awkward in person but quite eloquent in written word. When you are writing something you have the chance to edit it, read it over, think things through, in a way you can't in conversation and interviews and things.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Well, if he goes on dominating T20 leagues while we struggle along with test openers averaging in the 20's then I think we will be missing Warner immensely.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I must admit to feeling the same. The comment of not knowing any better really didn't look good for him. Feeling the pressure to do something and wanting to fit in, perhaps, but not knowing any better? Bad choice of words. In reality I think if Bancroft's words have done anything it's made his job of getting back harder, not Warner's.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
As I said above, it's actually quite clear that Warner has been in regular touch with at least the NSW based members of the test squad, he had a net with the Aussie quicks while Langer looked on and Langer himself commented on the process of bringing them back in. Definitely including Warner in that. I'm not on the inside, so I can't know what actually goes on, but Warner, who actually calmed a lot and lost the "in-your-face" combativeness he'd previously had for a couple of years after getting together with his Mrs, then went back to the attack dog persona, and I firmly believe he was encouraged to do that, the team liked having him get in the face of the opposition and all that. If that behaviour is discouraged instead of encouraged, I suspect Warner would be fine in that. And Warner is a test opener with an average of almost 50. When we are struggling to find any other openers for the test team who can average even half that, it's hard to see him not coming straight back in.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I think Warner is doing the right thing in not saying anything about it. All that needs to be said has been said, time to move on and let cricket do the talking. Bancroft will have to perform to earn his spot back largely because he barely earned it in the first place, really just came down to one really good innings at just the right time, and then did just enough to retain his spot, but was always a bit shakey. However, Warner will be straight back in just as quickly as Smith. If there was fallout with the team and they aren't a fan of Warner, then he would not have been having nets with the Australian quicks while Langer looked on and had Langer talking about the having already started working on the process of bringing them back in so that they are ready to go as soon as the bans are over etc.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Mate - you keep saying Warner has "terrible antecedents" do you really mean he has terrible ancestors? What have those who have gone before him done? If that is what you genuinely mean then your comments are terrible, to suggest that a bloke is terrible because of his parents, grandparents or older is a pretty disgusting comment. I'm hoping you are just using a word you don't know the meaning of.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@ Brett - As one of the few people on this forum who does not have a "win at all costs" view of life, I've got a few hard but fair comments on your good article. 1) Bancroft's "I didn't know any better" cop out is total BS and he insults us for expecting punters would believe it. 2) Smith's pathetic cop out that "I saw/heard a pre match meeting and didn't do anything to stop it" is also total BS. He stood and watched them cheat on the field and let it continue so he was obviously fully aware of the plan from the beginning and had pre-approved it. 3) The whole saga is a national disgrace and all of them - the 3 players involved, CA, selected media journo's and the ex players who make pathetic excuses for it are all partly responsible imo. The inevitable fall out from this episode will obviously continue for years to come and the all those involved deserve it - karma!
Chancho
Roar Rookie
I'm with you, to say that he did it to fit in is a bit weird. Surly getting putting your head down and getting the job done will elevate you in the team. My real issue is though, if you take this need to its natural conclusion, what if he was approached by someone who's looking to fix a game?
Bradds
Roar Rookie
He sure did. Warner was a mongrel BEFORE he was given the VC job by CA. Not a great way to settle him down if his behaviour was so undesirable
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Look up the dictionary. I'm sure cheating is not a synonym for "making a mistake".
Bradds
Roar Rookie
And he wasn't encouraged to do that by Cricket Australia by being given the VC job. Come off it. They encouraged his behaviour. Sure he went way too far with Sandpapergate but "Slinkawaysutherland" has a lot to answer for:(
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Just like it is with Sachin Tendulkar, Afridi & Du Plessis. If that’s all you choose to remember you’re a miscreant and that’s entirely your prerogative
Jacko
Guest
You are right Paul.....Mind you his tell all book will be a best seller if they dont select him....What happens if he comes out and says that the Aus team has been cheating for months or years and CA has ignored it? There are also no CA rules that govern what Warner says as its not a crime and he can make as much money out of it as he wants to. If he is making runs and they do not select him then their can be no other reason for non selection than pure bias.....so he can then do and say as he wants
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
The longer Langer continues with this lunacy of Finch opening against the moving ball with plenty of fielders in attacking positions, the better Warner's chances of a speedy recall. Bancroft will need to prove he can put the past behind him before even his surrogate father JL should look at him. Clearly, that cringeworthy interview reveals he has not done so.
MyBestShot
Roar Rookie
Warner had been an excellent captain for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL. The ranks pretty good on the fairplay rankings. IPL has strict rules and Warner probably knows what will happen if he transgresses the rules. Probably that was what was lacking in the present case.
Rob JM
Guest
It’s up to his teammates as to whether Warner is allowed back. Simple fact is he betrayed his teammates. He went against his captain (rumour has it that someone said “you must be f#$%ing kidding when Warners plan was overheard.) And then he wouldn’t own up to it and left Bancroft out to dry, which is why Smith tried to take the heat by claiming it was the leadership group. The biggest insult is that he never actually took responsibility and apologised to the players, which may have happened in private, but based on these latest interviews I’m guessing it hasn’t. Simple fact is teams perform better without selfish players like Warner and Kevin Pietersen. If he still thinks his actions were justified, and isn’t interested in asking for forgiveness, then I sure as hell are not going to give it too him.
Bobbo7
Guest
Warner brought it all on himself. Classic bully. Whenever he gets it back he sooks.