CA will stick to its sanctions, says Geoff Lawson

Pace great Lawson also feels Steve Smith is a "nice guy" who wants to serve his punishment and move on in 12-months time.

Former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson said that the ball-tampering episode in Cape Town really became global news.

Former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson said that the ball-tampering episode in Cape Town really became global news. “When the Newlands event broke, it made the back pages of Le Figaro and L'Équipe. And I got a call from Istanbul Radio asking me, “What do you make of ball-tampering?’’

These events went around the globe,’’ said Lawson while addressing a select audience at the second edition of the Rajsingh Dungarpur Spirit of Cricket Lecture at the C.K.Nayudu Hall, Cricket Club of India here on Monday.

READ: Ball-tampering will continue, believes Morrison

Lawson spoke for a little over half an hour, mainly on the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of Cricket preamble, emphaising on the tampering saga that became the talking point during the South Africa-Australia Test series.

CCI EC members Sachin Bajaj, Naval Pandole, Premal Udani (President, CCI) and Suresh Bafna with Geoff Lawson in Mumbai on Monday.

 

When asked if Cricket Australia will review the 12-month ban on Steve Smith, Lawson said: “CA has decided on the ban and they will stick to it. Even if they change it, I dont think he (Smith) will change. He has said he deserved it, that he will take his penance and move on in 12 months time. Smith is a very shy naive sort, he's a nice guy. He wants to play cricket, does not like media. Steve is taking his medicine. At the end of it all, this will be positive for Australian cricket.’’

Responding to ECB’s decision to introduce the 100-ball competition in 2020, Lawson said: “We never thought 20-over cricket will be effective. I don't know whether it’s good for the game. As I say, suck it and see. I have to see it being played. Bowlers have been excluded from the game (Twenty20). It ridicules (the bowlers), it's not a contest anymore. We need to get the bowlers back in the game. In Big Bash League, the bowlers have a bit more chance because of the bounce in the pitch and bigger boundaries.’’