The banned Australian duo of Steve Smith and David Warner shared a home field for the first time since the ball-tampering scandal on Saturday, but he didn’t last long as Steve Waugh’s son, Austin, claimed his wicket. The two appeared for their respective Sydney club teams in a game at Coogee Oval also featuring Shane Watson and with Test great Waugh and bowling legend Mitchell Johnson watching from the grandstands.
There was an immense amount of crowd at the ground and hence, both players were given a warm reception by the audience and the players ended up signing autographs and posing for pictures, with no sign of hatred towards them, according to cricket.com.au.
Warner’s Randwick Petersham was sent in to bat by Smith’s Sutherland and he spanked two boundaries before cutting a ball from Austin Waugh to backward point on 13. Smith had a better outing as compared to his former teammate as he 48 runs before being stumped. Former Test all-rounder Watson overshadowed them both with a 41-ball 63 to help Sutherland win by three wickets.
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It marked the first time Smith and Warner had shared a pitch since being sent home in disgrace from Australia’s tour of South Africa in March for their role in attempting to alter the ball with sandpaper.
David Warner has laughed off suggestions of a feud with Steve Smith after the suspended duo squared off on Saturday in the NSW Premier Cricket competition https://t.co/zngucYfCzX pic.twitter.com/AU7WqxITIR
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 10, 2018
They were both banned from international and state cricket for a year, but are allowed to play at club level. They have not been seen together publicly since the scandal turned their lives upside down, but according to the Sydney Daily Telegraph they have been in regular weekly contact and continue to get along well.
However, according to the recent reports, it has been heard that Cricket Australia (CA) is in favor of reconsidering the plea of Australia’s Cricketers’ Association (ACA) for lifting the banned of the cricketers.
