ACA chief calls for ball-tampering ban reductions following Ethics Centre review

Australian Cricketers' Association president Greg Dyer pointed to the report's suggestion that there was "too much pressure" placed on players to win and that such an atmosphere partly contributed to the events in Cape Town in March

Australian cricket's players' union says the bans handed out to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal should be reduced following the damning Ethics Centre review into Aussie cricketing culture.

Australian Cricketers' Association president Greg Dyer pointed to the report's suggestion that there was "too much pressure" placed on players to win and that such an atmosphere partly contributed to the events in Cape Town in March, when the three batsmen conspired to attempt to alter the condition of the ball by rubbing it with sandpaper.

And now he has called for the suspensions - Smith and Warner were banned for 12 months and Bancroft for nine - to be chopped.

"This is extremely significant, as there is now independent verification that the system and culture were contributing factors," Dyer said.

^{ACA president Greg Dyer}

"Given this, there must be a reconsideration of the harshness of the penalties handed down to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

"Basic fairness demands these independently verified contributing factors must now be taken into consideration and the penalties reduced."

Cricket Australia, however, are adamant that the sentences will stand.

"Sanctions were carried out and imposed by the board after a very full and thoughtful process. So the sanctions stand," chairman David Peever said at a press conference to discuss the scathing details of The Ethics Centre's review on Monday.

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