New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on Thursday defended David Warner and said that he is not a bad guy after Cricket Australia handed 12-month bans to former Australia captain Steve Smith and vice-captain Warner over their involvement in the ball-tampering incident during the Cape Town Test against South Africa.
“It’s a shame. The act is not condoned in any team. It will blow over in time, but it’s grown and grown and, like I say, he’s not a bad guy. He’s made a mistake and certainly admitted that and they are disappointed with that action,” Williamson said.
Further, Williamson defended Warner as a person.
“He’s not a bad person by any means. They (Warner and Smith) have made a mistake, they have certainly admitted that and they are disappointed with that action so they will have to take that punishment, strong punishment that it is,” said Williamson.
“But it’s a shame that two fantastic world-class players made a mistake.”
Cricket Australia have banned Warner and captain Steve Smith from all professional cricket. Cameron Bancroft, the player caught on camera attempting to doctor the ball with a piece of tape, was also handed a nine-month ban. Smith and Warner have already stepped down from their IPL captaincy roles.
