SYDNEY (AP) — David Warner’s lifetime captaincy and leadership ban has been lifted by Cricket Australia, a move which could see the retired test player captain the Sydney Thunder in the Twenty20 Big Bash league this season.
Warner received the penalty for his role in the 2018 sandpaper scandal in South Africa, on top of a one-year ban from cricket, which was also imposed on Steve Smith with a lesser playing suspension given to Cameron Bancroft, who was caught on film rubbing and scuffing the ball with yellow sandpaper at a test match in Cape Town.
But the leadership sanction was lifted Friday by an independent three-member review panel who deemed the opener had met the necessary criteria.
Warner appeared before the independent panel content earlier this month. It ruled that he met the criteria to be considered for future leadership roles.
“The respectful and contrite tone of his (Warner’s) responses, as well as the content impressed the Review Panel and led it to the unanimous view that he was sincere and genuine in acknowledging responsibility for the conduct and in his statement that he had extreme remorse for his conduct,” the panel said in a statement Friday.
“Mr. Warner’s conduct and behavior since the imposition of the sanction has been excellent and he appears to have made a substantial change, one example of which is that he no longer sledges or tries to provoke the opposing team."
Warner played his final test match in January against Pakistan, an Australian win. He has also said he will no longer play one-day internationals, only the T20 format of the game.
The move could also be considered an early birthday present from Cricket Australia — Warner turns 38 on Sunday.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
FILE -Australia's David Warner bats during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup cricket match between Australia and Bangladesh in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, Thursday, June 20, 2024. David Warner’s lifetime captaincy and leadership ban has been lifted by Cricket Australia, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, a move which could see the retired test player captain the Sydney Thunder in the Twenty20 Big Bash league this season.(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Left-hander Alex Vesia and shortstop Miguel Rojas could be added to the Los Angeles Dodgers' roster for the World Series while left-hander Nestor Cortes appeared set to be activated by the New York Yankees for Friday's opener.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman will be in the starting lineup after missing Games 4 and 6 of the NL Championship Series with a sprained right ankle.
“I can’t tell you I feel way better than I did six days ago,” Freeman said Thursday. “Playing in cleats and running, that’s a whole different story. It’s a sprained ankle. I’ve never dealt with one. They always say the first one is the worst.”
Vesia was left off the NL Championship Series roster after suffering an intercostal injury while warming up for NL Division Series Game 5 against San Diego on Oct. 11.
Rojas hasn't played since Game 3 versus the Padres on Oct. 8 due to an adductor injury.
Right-hander Brusdar Graterol, sidelined since Sept. 24 by inflammation in his pitching shoulder, also hopes to return.
“Everybody is trending in the right direction,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday. “We’re going to have some more difficult conversations, which I think is a good thing. I think Alex threw 15 pitches yesterday in a sim game, and the stuff looked good. Then Graterol has been throwing. I think he’s trending in the right direction. So I think that on the pitching side, we’re in a pretty good spot right now.”
Graterol pitched three scoreless outings in the 2020 World Series against Tampa Bay. He was limited to seven regular-season appearances this season.
Los Angeles intends to stay with 13 pitchers and 13 position players. Roberts said Graterol's month of inactivity will be considered.
“It’s part of the math. I think the other part is his track record in the postseason, how good he’s been, how good the heartbeat’s been,” Roberts said. “We believe in the person, the stuff.”
Roberts was pleased with Rojas' progress.
“Yesterday he participated in the entire workout: running well, taking at-bats, catching grounders. Everything looks really good,” the manager said. “So I think there’s a really good possibility we’ll see him on the roster.”
Cortes hasn't pitched in a game since Sept. 18 because of a flexor strain in his pitching elbow. He threw two innings of batting practice at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone may pick 13 pitchers for his 26-man roster.
“I still want to get through today with Nestor and see where we’re at,” he said.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
FILE - New York Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes throws during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Miguel Rojas warms up during practice in preparation for Game 6 in a baseball NL Championship Series against the New York Mets, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia celebrates after striking out San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill during the seventh inning in Game 5 of a baseball NL Division Series Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
