'Let them play': Players' union demands ball-tampering bans lifted

The Australian Cricketers’ Association has called for the immediate reinstatement of David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft.

Monday’s scathing review, commissioned after the ball-tampering furore, highlighted CA’s “arrogant” culture and noted “responsibility for that larger picture lies with CA and not just the players held directly responsible for the appalling incident at Newlands”.

In light of the findings, ACA boss Greg Dyer on Tuesday called for the banned trio to be given a reprieve, stating they had suffered enough.

“Given the new and damning findings of CA’s own independently commissioned Longstaff Review that found CA was also casually responsible for the events in Cape Town the ACA calls upon the CA board to lift the CA Board imposed suspensions on the three players, effective immediately,” he said.

“The sanctions should be recalibrated to allow this.

“The ACA does not call for a quashing of the sanctions. Let them play.”

Prior to Tuesday’s press conference, Dyer said in a statement that “independently verified contributing factors must now be taken into consideration and the penalties reduced”.

But CA chairman David Peever had already rejected that notion, noting “the sanctions were imposed by the board after a very full and thoughtful process and so the sanctions stand, as I said several weeks ago.”

However, Dyer warned the governing body that his organisation would be “relentless” in their bid to reduce the sanctions on the Test trio, who he described as “contrite”.

ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson argued the punishments were handed down without a proper understanding of the climate and culture in which the players erred.

“We now have new information and that should be taken into account,” Nicholson said.

“It’s natural justice that now needs to happen.”

When asked about the possibility of legal action, Nicholson replied “we just need to get through the first stage”.

Dyer stopped short of calling for Peever to resign in light of damning review findings about CA culture, noting it was a question for state associations, but highlighted the fact he had “some concerns about some of the rhetoric that was used throughout the course of yesterday”.

Lehmann adds voice to criticism of bans

Earlier on Tuesday, former Australia coach Darren Lehmann joined calls for Smith, Warner and Bancroft to be allowed to return to state and international cricket.

Smith and Warner are some seven months into one-year bans, while Bancroft will be eligible to return in December after his suspension for attempting to tamper with the ball during a test against South Africa in Cape Town in March.

“I think they should be back but it’s up to the board to make that decision, not me,” Lehmann told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I think the general feeling around Australia, certainly the people I talk to, is they want them playing again, at worst domestic cricket.

“Now the findings have come down they should be reviewing the sanctions on the three players.”

While Lehmann’s view of the mood of the Australian public might be reflective of the “bubble” the review said surrounded top players, Test greats Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Doug Walters have also called for a reduction to the bans.

Test paceman Josh Hazlewood said on Monday the players would like to see former captain Smith, vice captain Warner and batsman Bancroft back on the field.

“We’d love to see the guys back playing as soon as possible. That’s not really our decision,” he told a news conference.

“The bans have been handed down and the boys have copped them, as you’d expect. That’s really out of our hands, as players.”

Did fellow players cost Warner and Smith reduction of bans?

A leading cricket writer has revealed how a poor response from their fellow players may have cost Warner and Smith an early return.

According to Robert Craddock, there was an underwhelming response from current and former players to surveys issued by The Ethics Centre conducting the review.

Current Aussie players reportedly made up just 14 of the 469 total surveys returned to The Ethics Centre, which made up the basis for their recommendations.

Only 14 of 48 current players completed the survey, and only three of nine former players submitted their surveys.

The lack of responses may have been a form of protest from players that administrators were meddling in Aussie cricket.

But according to Craddock, that move backfired.

The veteran cricket writer says an overwhelming response from players to reduce the bans handed to Warner, Smith and Bancroft could have forced the hand of administrators.

But the silence was deafening.

“They did a hell of a lot of interviews, but significantly the player response was down,” Craddock told Fox Sports News.

“Only 14 of the 42 players who were sent a survey filled it in. That didn’t help Smith and Warner in their bans.

“The response from the players who did respond was that the bans were appropriate, generally.

“Had there been a landslide of protest about their bans it could have really helped those two.”

with agencies