Kohli praises youngsters in team, ICC ban WI coach for 2 games, and more - Cricket News Today, 16 October 2018

#3 Australia desperately need Smith and Warner, says Warne

Steve Smith

With Australia currently taking on Pakistan and getting ready to take on India later this year, former Australian spinner Shane Warne opened up about the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner.

Both Smith and Warner are currently serving a year's ban after being found quilty of tampering the ball against South Africa earlier this year.

However, Warne felt that the punishment was too harsh and it should have been reduced.

"It can be uncomfortable coming back but Australia cricket desperately need them back," Warne told Omnisport. "There is not enough talent coming up to replace players of this standard.

"They have played a lot of cricket, which I wasn't able to do, which is a surprise. I would have encouraged them to take their minds off cricket by jumping into something else.

"At the time, I thought the punishment of Smith, Warner and Bancroft was very harsh. For Smith and Warner to get a 12-month ban was a punishment that didn't fit the crime – they were playing against an opposition captain [Faf du Plessis] who had been done twice for ball tampering," he said.