Steve Smith comes out in support of David Warner amid leadership ban drama

Steve Smith and David Warner (Source: Twitter)

After Australia registered a thumping win against the West Indies by 419 runs and clinched the Test series 2-0, Steve Smith, who was stand-in skipper for Australia in the second Test, firmly backed David Warner, who recently pulled out of the bid to overturn his lifetime leadership ban in Australian cricket. Warner had been banned from the leadership position after the ball-tampering scandal at Cape Town.

After he gave up his appeal, David Warner pointed fingers at the review process. He also said that he does not want his family to be the washing machine for cricket Australia’s dirty laundry. Steve Smith was also asked about the big incident concerning David Warner after Australia beat West Indies in the second Test.

He has got our full support - Steve Smith on David Warner

"From my point of view, banning for life from leadership is just fundamentally wrong," Smith told reporters after Australia crushed the West Indies by 419 runs in the 2nd Test. “David served his time like I did. For us, we know he's a leader around the group, and on and off the field he's doing a tremendous job,” Smith said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Warner received a one-year suspension from playing for Australia on the back of the ball-tampering scandal. He could not play for Australia for 12 months, but he could still ply his trade in global T20 leagues across the world. After having a lacklustre series against West Indies, he will hope to get back amongst the runs against South Africa.

He will play his 100th Test match for Australia when Australia take on South Africa in Melbourne.

"It's been a difficult one for him, it's been a difficult week. It has been more of a distraction for Davey, no doubt, going through that himself. David has said he's done and dusted and get on with it. He's got our full support. Hopefully he can have a really big series for us against South Africa with the bat," Smith added.