Australia coach Justin Langer cautions Steve Smith and David Warner ahead of international return

Australia’s tainted duo, Steve Smith and David Warner, have been among talks ever since the ball-tampering scandal took place in Cape Town last March. While the duo is set to return into international arena, head coach Justin Langer has revealed that the pair won’t be factored in during the national side’s ongoing white-ball tour of India. Both the Australians have been battling it hard with their fitness and training methods as their respective bans are expected to be lifted by March 29. Langer has added that they won’t be a certainty in the squad, and will have to press hard for selection.

Langer told Cricket Australia, “We’re planning to pick the best XI to win these games (ahead of India ODIs). It’s about us winning games of cricket and then selections and positions usually look after themselves. We can’t plan for them (Smith and Warner) to be here because they’re not here. For us to win last night (in Bengaluru) is a great performance for us in T20 cricket now it’s time to extend that to one-day cricket and pick the best team we’ve got.

Australia’s tainted duo, Steve Smith and David Warner, have been among talks ever since the ball-tampering scandal took place in Cape Town last March. While the duo is set to return into international arena, head coach Justin Langer has revealed that the pair won’t be factored in during the national side’s ongoing white-ball tour of India. Both the Australians have been battling it hard with their fitness and training methods as their respective bans are expected to be lifted by March 29. Langer has added that they won’t be a certainty in the squad, and will have to press hard for selection.

Langer told Cricket Australia, “We’re planning to pick the best XI to win these games (ahead of India ODIs). It’s about us winning games of cricket and then selections and positions usually look after themselves. We can’t plan for them (Smith and Warner) to be here because they’re not here. For us to win last night (in Bengaluru) is a great performance for us in T20 cricket now it’s time to extend that to one-day cricket and pick the best team we’ve got.

“I think you should never assume anything (on Smith and Warner’s return) when you’re playing cricket for Australia. Every game is important. We are looking to win every game that we can and usually positions and spots in teams look after themselves if we look at winning games of cricket,” Langer added.

The road for both Smith and Warner hasn’t been easy post the infamous ball-tampering fiasco during Australia’s tour of South Africa 2018. Both are suffering from an elbow injury, though it is a minor surgery from Warner’s perspective. Following the ODIs versus India, Australia are to play Pakistan and the duo may return to action for the last part of the series. They will be closely monitored during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 wherein Smith will represent Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Warner will turn up for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

It will be interesting to see if Smith-Warner make it to the 2019 World Cup squad. Given that their form will be factored and not only be included on the basis of reputation, the coach’s statement has sent strong signals for the pair to turn up the heat after the bans get lifted.

Australia play India in the first ODI of the five-match series from March 2 at Hyderabad. They won their first T20I series — first series in any format — on Indian soil when they defeated India 2-0 in the two T20Is.
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