Steve Smith and David Warner are very much in scheme of things: Justin Langer

Banned Australian cricketers Steve Smith and David Warner are likely to return in the scheme of things in early 2019, a year in which the Australian team will be playing the Ashes and of course, the much-anticipated World Cup. The duo was banned for their inclusion in a ball-tampering scandal during a Test in South Africa that engulfed the world game and prompted a review of the Australian team’s culture.

The selection panel along with the management had taken a flamboyant decision to shut doors for both of them for a year. Australia’s coach stressed the need of the hour and how important is it for the duo to rehabilitate before getting back at the supreme level. He believes that if Steve Smith and David Warner are in the right mindset and hitting the ball cleanly, there seems to be no good reason to keep two powerpack cricketers out of the contention.

No reason they shouldn’t be welcomed

“If our environment’s right and they’re playing well, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be welcomed back in to help us win the World Cup and help us win the Ashes next summer. If we can have an environment of great young leaders and welcome those guys back, we can be a real force and perhaps a team that’s smiling a lot more than the team was before it happened,” Langer said while speaking to Mark Howard on his podcast The Howie Games

On their role in the team

The pair who was sacked as the captain and the vice-captain due to their involvement in the ball-tampering, probably the nicest gentleman one can meet, says Langer when asked about them and their role in Australian Cricket.

“Steve Smith is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life. He’s also a complete cricket tragic. He’s a ripping young bloke. And what a player. As committed to batting and being as great as anyone you’ll ever meet.”

“Davey’s the marathon man of Australian cricket, people don’t remember that. He’d played every single game of cricket. He’d play Test, One Day, T20, IPL, cricket all year round. He was being hailed as a great leader in that finally Australia was playing good T20,” the coach further added.

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