Warner can review captaincy ban after CA code change

David Warner is within touching distance of having his lifetime leadership ban lifted after a change in Cricket Australia's code of conduct opened the door for the former vice-captain to make his case.

Changes to CA's code were approved by board members on Monday, opening the door for Warner to apply to front a three-person panel and push for leadership freedom after months of speculation.

Under previous rules, players and officials were unable to have sanctions reviewed, appealed or lifted after initial penalties were handed down no matter how many years earlier.

However, any sanctioned player will now be able to make a case for long-term penalties to be eased if they can prove they have shown remorse and their behaviour has changed.

Warner has spent recent months advocating for the chance to hold a leadership position again, with his ban the last lingering punishment stemming from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, and, if he opts to apply for a review, could see him captain the Sydney Thunder when he plays in the KFC BBL after the Test summer.

"Any applications will be considered by a three-person review panel, comprising independent Code of Conduct Commissioners," CA said in a statement. 

"(They) must be satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist to justify modifying a sanction."

Monday's move comes some nine months after players' union first wrote to CA officials urging Warner's ban to be reconsidered.

CA stressed that any application would not be a review of the initial ban, but rather of the player's behaviour since and justification for lifting sanctions.

"These circumstances and considerations will include whether the subject of the sanction has demonstrated genuine remorse," the statement read.

"The subject's conduct and behaviour since the imposition of the sanction.

"Whether rehabilitation programs have been completed undertaken (if applicable) and the length of time that has passed since the sanction was imposed. 

"And whether sufficient time has passed to allow for reform or rehabilitation."

Any change in Warner's circumstances could allow him to captain the Thunder in the BBL having signed on to return to the tournament this summer with a two-year deal, as well as enter the frame for Australia's one-day captaincy in any match full-time skipper Pat Cummins sits out.

Josh Hazlewood became Australia's 28th ODI captain on Saturday when Cummins was rested, with the role set to be shared around a wider leadership group in any game Cummins does not play.

The leadership of Australia's Twenty20 team is also likely to be up for grabs in the next six months, as Aaron Finch weighs up his future and Warner keen to play at the 2024 World Cup.