Union pushes for Smith WNCL return

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Union pushes for Smith WNCL return

By Jon Pierik

The Australian Cricketers' Association will push for Emily Smith to be able to return to first-class cricket when the union meets with the sport's national governing body on Friday.

ACA president Shane Watson and board director Alyssa Healy are heading a delegation that will meet with Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings and his executive in Melbourne.

It had been reported that the ACA would push for Smith to return early from suspension so she could play grade cricket but the players' association will also seek having the wicketkeeper free to return next month for the second half of the Women's National Cricket League season.

Emily Smith, left, in action for Hobart. Her suspension has divided the cricket community.

Emily Smith, left, in action for Hobart. Her suspension has divided the cricket community. Credit: Getty Images

Smith was banned for a year, nine months suspended, for uploading a video of the Hobart Hurricanes' batting order during the Women's Big Bash League last month before it was made public. The ACA will argue she has already served enough time on the sidelines.

CA and the ACA agree there was no untoward intent by Smith but the former has maintained that anti-corruption protocols were broken. CA has also maintained it will not budge on the punishment.

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Smith was ruled out of the rest of the WBBL campaign and all cricket. She was left physically ill by the fall-out. She has been given a paid internship by the ACA during the ban.

The ACA has been criticised for not making Smith appeal the sanction but the 24-year-old herself did not want to push the case. Questions were also raised as to why Smith did not have a lawyer present when she initially met with CA's head of integrity and security, Sean Carroll.

Her suspension has divided the cricketing community. Former Australian cricket captain Alex Blackwell defended the punishment, while former England cricketer Isa Guha, now a prominent commentator, said CA had been heavy-handed and had picked an easy target.

The Hobart Hurricanes were also fined $10,000, as Smith should not have had access to her phone at the time she made the post.

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