This ugly mess,which will haunt Australian cricket for as long as Warner and Smith remain in national teams,was created in those early mismanaged days in 2018. CA was warned,but it tried to get out of jail cheaply. Its failure in those days is now cascading through more mismanagement,more slipperiness,more of the same sneaky fence-sitting,more trying to have it both ways.

A disturbing pattern is emerging between this episode and how Tim Paine was treated at the end of his Test career. Cricket Australia does not want to make a decision,so it calls in an outside “expert” – a lawyer for Warner,a PR dude for Paine – to do the dirty work. Warner,like Paine,had an unpalatable option placed in front of him,forcing the player to take the course that would minimise CA’s inconvenience while passing responsibility to the “expert” who was then quickly cleared from the premises. The annoying general public who won’t leave Warner in peace? They’re not fooled by these evasions,either.

Because it was not dealt with properly at the time,Cape Town just keeps festering. After Smith served his ban,he was permitted to move on. But because Warner’s ban has no limit,there is no moving on. And that section of the public that is still so disappointed in Australian cricket leaders cheating,well,it has a long memory,and it cannot be placed under control. There is no time limit on its feelings of betrayal.

Nor will the cricket ball do what Warner wants. With everything set up for him on the Adelaide Oval,he played a loose shot and nicked one before he could get going. Before the ball even reached the wicketkeeper,he let out a moan. The anguish said more than any prepared statement could have done.

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