Ball tampering scandal: Mitchell Johnson says bans against Smith, Warner and Bancroft should stay

As per the original decision, while Cameron Bancroft's ban is valid until December 29 this year, the bans on Smith and Warner are to stay till March 29, 2019

On Sunday, Former pacer Mitchell Johnson said that because Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have not challenged the board's sentence, the ball-tampering ban on the Aussie trio should not be reduced.

As per the original decision, while Cameron Bancroft's ban is valid until December 29 this year, the bans on Smith and Warner are to stay till March 29, 2019.

However, if the bans are uplifted it might even allow the three banned men to be available for selection to play against India in the home series, starting with the first T20I on November 21.

Former speedster Johnson has spoken against it.

"I thought 3 players were banned. So does that mean Cameron Bancroft's ban will be reduced to the same amount as Smith & Warner if it goes ahead? They all accepted their bans & didn't contest it so I think the bans should stay," Johnson tweeted.

I thought 3 players were banned 🤔So does that mean Cameron Bancroft’s ban will be reduced to the same amount as Smith & Warner if it goes ahead? They all accepted their bans & didn’t contest it so I think the bans should stay https://t.co/9IoCfjl3P5

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) November 18, 2018

India is all set to play three T20s, four Tests and three ODIs against Australia starting November 21 at Gabba, Brisbane. The four-match Test series between the two teams is scheduled to take place on December 6 at Adelaide.

Apart from Johnson, Former skipper Ian Chappel had earlier said that the bans should not be reduced.

"Do I think that some of the bans should have been reduced? No, I don't think they should, because of the things that came out of the long staff review was that they felt the attitude was to win and don't count the cost. If they would have brought Smith, Warner, and Bancroft back into the team against India, then they would say 'here we go again', don't count the cost let's just make sure we win," Chappell had told ESPNcricinfo