Simon Katich says unfair to blame David Warner entirely for ‘Sandpaper-gate’ scandal | Cricket News

Former Australia cricketer Simon Katich says he understands why it is difficult for most of the Australian public to forgive David Warner for his role in the sandpaper-gate scandal but feels it is unfair to blame the opener entirely.
“I think it’s hard to say ‘full respect’ because I think there is always going to be an element of the public that didn’t like what happened, and rightfully so,” Katich told SEN Sportsday NSW.
Warner was adjudged to have played the leading role in the scandal and was banned from elite cricket for a year and from leadership positions for life. Steve Smith was also banned for a year and from leadership positions for three years, while opener Cameron Bancroft was given a one-year ban from leadership positions on top of a nine-month playing suspension.
“A lot of us couldn’t believe what the Australian team resorted to,” said Katich.
“But I think to blame him entirely for that whole episode is pretty naive.”

At the same time Katich is impressed with how Warner has git himself back to playing cricket at such a high level despite receiving so much backlash.
“I think in time, I’ve got no doubt there will be more said about it,” Katich said.
“He took the wrap along with Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith but I think, the public feel there was more to it than just those three.
“At the time, I think what he did was he kept his mouth shut after the initial apology and then got on with trying to go back out there and try to play as good as cricket as he possibly could. That wouldn’t have been easy to do.
“What’s done is done but for David to be able to get back to where he got to after such an enormous event like it was in Cape Town… it was significant to think that he was able to get back and play good cricket after that event.”