JOHANNESBURG: Disgraced Australia skipper Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were heading home today to confront mounting anger over the cheating scandal that has left both men banned for a year, their careers in tatters and cricket rocked to its foundations.
But as the two players also count the financial cost of their suspensions, there were calls from coach Darren Lehmann for them to be “given a second chance”, adding that he fears for their long-term mental health in the current rabid climate.
Cricket Australia (CA) said Smith, 28, and 31-year-old Warner had been suspended from “all international and domestic cricket” while opening batsman Cameron Bancroft has been banned for nine months over the ball-tampering incident during the third Test in South Africa.
CA said in a statement that Bancroft, 25, who has played just eight Tests, had attempted to “artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper”.
Smith — the world’s number one Test batsman — was charged with knowledge of the potential plan but Warner was charged with developing the plan and instructing Bancroft to carry it out.
The CA statement said Smith and Bancroft would not be considered for team leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the end of their suspensions, but Warner will be barred from such positions in the future.
Cricket Australia told AFP the players could still play at club level in Australia or in other countries.
However, both Smith and Warner have been ejected from this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), losing contracts worth nearly $2 million each.
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