ZCZC
BSP-19
CRICKET-AUS-SMITH-WARNER
Australian cricket needs Smith back, says Waugh
SYDNEY, Sept 18, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Australian cricket needs disgraced ex-
captain Steve Smith and he is likely to be welcomed back with open arms,
former skipper Steve Waugh forecast Tuesday, although it might be tougher for
David Warner.
The pair are serving one-year suspensions from international and state
cricket over their part in the ball-tampering scandal against South Africa in
March, while opener Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months.
“We need him back in Australian cricket,” Waugh told Fox Sports Australia
of 29-year-old Smith, who has played 64 Tests.
“You can’t lose someone of his quality overnight and expect to replace it
and he’s still only relatively young.”
All three players accepted responsibility for the scandal that rocked the
sport, with Smith’s tearful apology on his arrival back in Australia tugging
at the heartstrings.
Waugh said fans “still adore him”.
“The Australian public, they are forgiving,” he said. “He (Smith) made a
mistake and he’s paid a heavy price for it.
“But if he gets back out there and plays with the same enthusiasm and
passion, he loves playing cricket, he loves scoring runs, he wants to get
back playing for Australia, I think Australians will move past what happened
before.
“They obviously remember it, but they’re big enough to realise you can
make a mistake and grow from that and be stronger.”
Warner, a dynamic batsman but a divisive figure in the game, may find it
harder to earn acceptance again.
He was charged by Cricket Australia with developing the plot to use
sandpaper to alter the ball and telling Bancroft to carry it out.
Despite this, Waugh said he hoped Warner would also get a second chance.
“I hope so, you have to give guys an opportunity to redeem themselves.
They’ve apologised and paid a heavy price,” he said, but warned it would not
be easy for any of them to bounce back to the top.
“It’s going to be a challenge for all of them to come back, it’s not going
to be as easy as people think,” he said.
“You’re out for 12 months, the game does move on, you lose that aura of
invincibility a little bit, you become a bit more fragile, a bit of self-
doubt creeps in.
“So it’s going to be a real challenge for all three of those guys to come
back strong.”
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1504 hrs