Virat Kohli to play County Cricket besides Steve Smith or David Warner at Surrey?
Syndey: Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have been left out in the cold ever since the ball-tampering scandal that shocked the cricketing world in March. However, we could soon see the disgraced Australian players back in action soon after County Cricket club Surrey expressed their interest in signing one of the banned cricketers.
Michael Di Venuto, the current head coach of Surrey, who previously served as the batting coach of Australia till 2016 has stated he would like one of the players to join his team for the upcoming season provided the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has no reservations.
Surrey had earlier roped in Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh as one of its overseas players for the season, but he is out of contention following an ankle injury. South Africa’s Dean Elgar was hired as his replacement, leaving one overseas player spot vacant for the latter half of the season.
“From an Australian perspective, it is probably important that they play a bit of cricket at some stage. I don’t know if they are allowed to play in this competition. I know what it states in their sanctions that they can’t play domestic cricket in Australia.” Di Venuto told cricket.com.au.
Smith, Warner or Bancroft are viable options for the last overseas spot.
“We have got a relationship with Mitch to see how he goes with his ankle but we have got a spot we have got to fill as well. So, if they are in the right mental state to play cricket and the ECB will have to allow it to start with, then we’d be mad not to look at some of the world’s best players potentially playing,” he added.
Smith and Warner were handed a year-long ban by Cricket Australia with Bancroft receiving a 9-month punishment. However, the trio decided not to appeal against their sanctions. But while their disallows them from taking part in domestic matches, there is no clause in the ban which opposes them from playing overseas.
Meanwhile, India skipper Virat Kohli has also expressed his desire to play in the English county and is strongly linked with Surrey.
