Hugs & cuddles as Smith, Warner catch up with Oz

Melbourne, March 17 

Steve Smith and David Warner have been welcomed back into the Australian fold with “hugs and cuddles” at a team meet-up in Dubai, and said it was like they’d never left. 

The disgraced pair, whose year-long bans for ball-tampering expire this month, were invited by coach Justin Langer as part of their re-integration after the scandal in South Africa that rocked the cricketing world.

Australia are in Dubai as they prepare for an upcoming series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates following their upset ODI series win against India. “It’s been awesome. It’s like we didn’t really leave, the boys were very accepting of us coming in and with open arms,” said Warner.

“A lot of big hugs and cuddles. It’s been great. It’s good to see the spirit they’re in after a great series win in India and I am obviously looking forward to watching them play against Pakistan here and hopefully they win that series as well,” he added.

Australian cricket has since undergone a host of cultural changes under Langer and Warner and Smith were brought up to speed at the meeting on how it now worked. “Making sure we’re in line with team values moving forwards,” Warner said of the meet-up, which also discussed the squad’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup.

“Obviously (we’ve) been out for 12 months and there has been a big change, which is great, and it’s about excepting that and playing what our role should be in the team,” he said.

 Smith, who was stripped of the captaincy and is barred from being considered for any leadership role for a further 12 months after his ban ends, echoed Warner’s comments. Both players, who are returning from elbow injuries, are eligible for the final two games of the Pakistan series. But selectors decided it would be better to ease themselves back at the upcoming Indian Premier League. — AFP