Former Australia cricket captain Ian Chappell has renewed his tirade on Cricket Australia over its decision to deal Steve Smith and David Warner different punishments for the roles they played in the 2018 ball-tampering saga.
Chappell, who skippered Australia in 30 Tests in the 1970s, has reiterated his stance on the leadership wrangle following Cricket Australia’s decision to name Smith as Test vice-captain.
Pat Cummins was on Friday installed as Australia’s 47th Test captain and Smith as his deputy, one week after Tim Paine resigned from his post amid a sexting scandal.
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While Smith received a two-year leadership suspension in the wake of the Cape Town cheating drama, Warner was hit with a lifetime leadership ban – a call that angers Chappell.
“I wish that Cricket Australia had made a clean break, but for Cricket Australia to get anything right at the moment is asking a bit much,” Chappell said on 2GB’s Wide World of Sports radio.
“For starters, I have a problem … Why is Steve Smith looked upon as a different punishment to David Warner? In fact, if anything, I think Steve Smith’s crime was greater.
“For a captain to say, ‘I don’t want to know’ when cheating’s involved, is not correct. A captain’s got to know, he’s got to find out and he’s got to do something about it.
“Either Steve Smith has a two-year ban from captaincy and so does David Warner, or Steve Smith has a life ban and so does Dave Warner. Same thing.”
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Paine on Friday announced he’d be taking indefinite leave to help his mental health.
The wicketkeeper captained Australia in 23 of the 35 Tests he’s played, stepping into the position to replace Smith following the ball-tampering scandal at Newlands in March 2018.
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Former Test captain Mark Taylor told Wide World of Sports on Friday that Paine was likely to not play another match for Australia.
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