New South Wales captain Peter Nevill says he’d love to see the banned duo return in the Sheffield Shield final. Former test keeper Nevill was appointed Blues skipper on Tuesday, filling one of many voids left by Smith.Smith and Warner are serving 12-month bans that preclude them from playing international cricket, but also representing NSW or taking part in the Big Bash League. Those suspensions, resulting from the Cape Town cheating scandal, expire on March 28. That is the same date the Shield final starts, giving Smith and Warner hope of an unexpected hit with the Blues.
“I certainly would not be against them playing any games for us. I’d love to have them around, any time,” Nevill told reporters on Tuesday.
“Hopefully we can see them, at some point this season, playing for us. If that’s the Shield final, we’ll have to make sure we make that.”
Many members of the NSW squad were understood to be incredulous when Cricket Australia (CA) slapped long suspensions on Smith and Warner, unhappy because they felt the punishment was too harsh and did not match their crimes. The players’ union and past players, including Shane Warne, voiced their concern publicly. The latter accused CA of bowing to public “hysteria”.
