Australia ‘crazy’ not to include Steve Smith and David Warner in World Cup squad

Australia head coach Justin Langer says it would be “crazy” not to include Steve Smith and David Warner in the squad for this year’s Cricket World Cup.

Smith and Warner, the former Test captain and vice-captain respectively, are currently serving one-year bans for their part in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last March.

But with the duo’s suspension set to expire on 29 March they will again be eligible for domestic and international cricket.

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The World Cup starts in England in May and before that the pair are set to play in the Indian Premier League. Australia will also play a one-day international series against Pakistan.

Australia select their World Cup squad on 23 April and Langer says that Smith and Warner will need to find opportunities to earn their place.

Quoted by The Daily Telegraph, Langer said: “They’re going to need to get some cricket before coming back into the squad. It’s all part of the management. We’ll have to wait and see.

“It’s about how much cricket they get to play between now and then. They’ll find opportunities. We’ll find opportunities.

“We’re talking about two great players, we’re not talking about two really good players. Two great players who on paper we’d be crazy not to have them in the team.”

This summer the Australian Test team will also be in England aiming to defend the Ashes.