Players' union in new push to lift bans

Cricket Australia will await receipt of a formal submission from the Australian Cricketers' Association after the players' union revealed today it would be "relentless" in its push for an immediate lifting of bans imposed in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal.

In responding to the findings of the culture and players' reviews into events that might have contributed to the shameful events in Cape Town last March, the ACA indicated it will request that CA revisit the 12-month bans handed to Steve Smith and David Warner and the nine-month suspension imposed upon Cameron Bancroft.

"We have seen the Australian Cricketers' Association (statement) and note they will be making a submission to the CA Board in the next 48 hours," a CA spokesman said today.

"We look forward to engaging directly with the ACA in a positive and constructive manner in the best interests of the game."

When asked yesterday if there was scope for the bans – handed down following an investigation conducted by CA's then Head of Integrity Iain Roy in the days after the events at Cape Town – to be reduced, CA Chairman David Peever reiterated earlier confirmation that the suspensions would stand.

The three players were offered an opportunity to challenge the severity of the sanctions in the aftermath of them being imposed, but all three opted to accept the penalties as outlined.

However, at a media conference in Melbourne today the ACA's president Greg Dyer and chief executive Alistair Nicholson claimed the details contained in the 145-page culture review constituted "new information" that was sufficient for the penalties to be re-examined.

The culture review was conducted by the Sydney-based Ethics Centre overseen by Dr Simon Longstaff and its findings were based on opinions ventured by the more than 450 people who responded to surveys and interviews, which included a submission from the ACA.

Dyer said details in the report that suggest the decision to use sandpaper on the ball during the third Test against South Africa last March was partly a result of corporate culture driven by CA that had fostered a "win without counting the cost" mentality within the national men's team.

As a result, he claimed the bans should be removed to allow all three to return to top-level cricket although the ACA declined to address any further action they might consider taking should their submission to CA prove unsuccessful.

"I also make some further comments on the harshness of penalties handed down to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft," Dyer said in a media release issued prior to today's press conference.

"What the Longstaff Review reveals is that Cricket Australia itself must also take a share of responsibility for what happened in South Africa.

"Yes, this moment of madness was 'individual' but now there is evidence and independent verification of system failure as well.

"This is hugely significant. With this new information common sense, common decency, basic fairness, proportionality and natural justice demand that the punishment is reduced.

"The players have already lost time in the game, chances to play for Australia, endured public humiliation and faced massive financial penalties.

"My message to Cricket Australia is a simple one: these contrite men have been punished enough. Let these contrite men play.

"I add that the ACA will be relentless in pursuing this end."