Australia to ‘review David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban’

David Warner was hit with a lifetime ban from leadership roles by Cricket Australia after his involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, but reportedly that could now be lifted

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David Warner tearfully addresses media in wake of ball tampering scandal

Following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, then Australia vice-captain David Warner was banned by Cricket Australia (CA) from holding a leadership position ever again.

During a Test match against South Africa in 2018 in Cape Town, Australia opener Cameron Bancroft was caught by TV cameras using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball. After an investigation by CA, Warner, Bancroft and then captain Steve Smith were all charged for their role in the plot.

Warner was found to be the mastermind behind the plan and was handed the strongest punishment of all. While Bancroft was banned from playing for nine months, Warner and Smith were banned for a full year.

Bancroft and Smith were banned from holding team leadership positions for one and two years respectively, while Warner was banned for life.

Smith has since been installed as vice-captain of the Australia Test side and filled in as skipper in the second Ashes Test last December after Pat Cummins was sidelined with Covid.

Now, according to a report from the Daily Telegraph , CA are set to review Warner’s lifetime ban in July. And it is claimed the decision is an attempt to try and persuade Warner to play in the Big Bash (BBL) again, with the league suffering from flagging interest.

The BBL has faced criticism for being too long and the schedule has meant top Australia stars like Warner, Smith and Cummins have barely featured. Speaking to News Corp, BBL chief Alistair Dobson hinted that Warner could return to the league as a captain.

“I know we’d love to have Dave in the BBL and if there are other things that need to happen to make that possible, that’s for others to resolve,” Dobson said. “David has been such a champion of Australian cricket and he’s a player that we’d love to have in the BBL.

“We know he’s got great history with the Sydney Thunder and we’d love all the Australian players to be playing in the BBL if they’re available. If there’s a way that David could find his way onto a BBL list I think it would be huge.”