Former Australia cricketer Mark Taylor feels Australia’s banned cricketers still have opportunities to restore their legacies following the underhand tactics in Cape Town.
Meanwhile, Taylor, who is also a Cricket Australia’s (CA) board member, said the behaviour of the trio was a failure in their responsibility to the game.
However, Taylor stressed that they all can build their shattered reputations with their actions post the banned period.
CA handed Smith and Warner with 12-month suspensions, while the ball tamperer Cameron Bancroft got a nine-month ban. Also, Smith and Bancroft can’t lead any Australian team for next two years while CA debarred Warner from captaincy forever.
Meanwhile, the trio can appeal their Board-imposed sanctions until Thursday.
Asked if there is an opportunity for Smith to restore his reputation, Taylor was clear in his response.
“Absolutely,” he said on Channel Nine’s Sports Sunday. “There’s an opportunity there for all three (players). (This scandal) just shows you that there is also a responsibility to the game in all that, and unfortunately, that’s been lost this week. But having said that, that’s their short-term legacy. Their long-term legacy is they have a real opportunity to do something great for themselves,” he added.
Mark Taylor also admitted that at times you need to hit rock bottom to get better. Also, he feels that their legacy is yet to come.
“Yes they’ve been on a high, now they’re on a real low, and sometimes as they say you have to hit rock bottom to get better. Now they can start getting better. Their legacy, I hope for all three of them, is yet to come,” Taylor mentioned.
Meanwhile, the disgraced cricketers did a press conference individually upon landing back home. They apologised for their wrongdoings and promised to make up for it in future.
In conclusion, Warner hinted that he may not play for his country again.