Banned Steve Smith and David Warner will not be playing any of Australia’s coming Tests against India, but they are being quietly eased back into the fold to help their bowlers combat Virat Kohli. The duo, once national captain and vice-captain, were suspended from state and international cricket for 12 months over the ball-tampering scandal in SA in March. Despite a run of dire results, Cricket Australia last week ruled out relaxing their bans after a push to do so by the Australian Cricketers’ Association. But with batting maestro Kohli and dangerous opening pair Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan awaiting Australia in the first Test in Adelaide from December 6, the banned duo have been enlisted to help the pace attack prepare. Warner was welcomed back on Sunday, spotted in the Sydney Cricket Ground nets facing Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins with coach Justin Langer intently watching on in the umpire’s position. According to The Australian newspaper, he was also invited into the dres...
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