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South African star Faf du Plessis thinks David Warner’s captaincy ban is TOO HARD – even though he skippered against the Aussies during the infamous Sandpapergate series in 2018
Former South African skipper Faf du Plessis believes David Warner’s lifelong leadership ban, issued by Cricket Australia, was too harsh and should be lifted.
The middle order batter, 38, was in charge of the Proteas during the infamous 2018 Test, in which Warner ordered Australian teammate Cameron Bancroft to use sandpaper to alter the ball’s movement in Cape Town.
Bancroft was caught on camera following Warner’s instructions for tampering with the ball and chaos ensued.
Warner and then-captain Steve Smith were each banned for 12 months for discrediting the sport in CA’s eyes.
Bancroft was given a nine-month suspension and the feeling outside of Australia in elite cricket circles was that the penalties were far too harsh.
Du Plessis himself was embroiled in two incidents involving balls during his career.
Former South African skipper Faf du Plessis believes David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban issued by Cricket Australia in 2018 should be lifted
Warner was banned from sport for 12 months by Cricket Australia following the 2018 Cape Town ball manipulation incident
The first was against Pakistan in the UAE in 2013, where he used the zipper on his pants to alter the movement of the ball.
Three years later, du Plessis was in the headlines again, this time in Adelaide for using a lollipop or coin to make one side of the ball sticky.
He was fined 100 percent of his match money, but was not banned from any match.
So rather than condemning Warner, du Plessis believes the gritty opening batsman has served his time and should now be able to demonstrate his leadership skills, either with Australia, a T20 franchise overseas or at the Big Bash this summer.
“I never throw rocks — I’m probably pointing the finger at myself harder than anyone else, and I’m not a glass house,” Du Plessis told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“So I think Davey has definitely had his time, he’s served a really, really hard sentence that a lot of guys – myself included – did things wrong too. [we] didn’t even come close to the [same type of] punishment given to Smith, Bancroft and Warner.
Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera after Warner’s instructions for tampering with the ball with sandpaper and chaos ensued
Then Australian captain Steve Smith (pictured right) was also banned for 12 months, with Bancroft issuing a nine-month suspension
“He could, I’ve seen him in the IPL captaining one of the franchises there and having a successful campaign.”
By the release of his autobiography by firedu Plessis also revealed that the South Africans felt they were being bullied by Australia early in the 2018 home series – and collectively pledged to be more aggressive.
It resulted in wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock enraging Warner after an ugly smear on his wife Candice.
Warner felt that De Kock was crossing the line and from then on, tensions between the two nations reached a boiling point.
“I take it left, right and center, especially outside the spectator’s field. I’m used to that and it doesn’t bother me,” Warner said at the time.
“I’ve been called everything under the sun on the pitch and it doesn’t bother me to be honest. But in the vicinity of my personal space, a remark was made, which was despicable and disgusting, about my wife.
“It was just something I don’t think should have been said… it was way out of line.
“I reacted emotionally and regretted the way it turned out, but I will always stand up for my family.”