Isolated Warner still in contention, says CA chief

Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts on Thursday denied explosive revelations about the ball-tampering scandal had isolated David Warner and made it untenable for him to return to the international game.

Both Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith have given bombshell interviews in recent days as they re-emerge into public life after the incident in South Africa in March that rattled the sport.

Observers have interpreted their tell-all comments as effectively throwing the divisive Warner under the bus.

"In those comments, he has buried Dave Warner," former Australian opener Michael Slater said of the Bancroft interview in which he blamed him as the instigator of the plot to use sandpaper to rough up the ball.

Roberts said the timing of the interviews wasn't ideal, given they have overshadowed the crucial third Test against India, with the series tied 1-1.

But he denied they impacted Warner's chance of being brought back into the Australian fold.

"I don't know if it does (make it harder for Warner). Our focus is to work with Dave, who I spoke to about three days ago, on his integration plan when he is eligible for selection again," Roberts told SEN sports radio in Melbourne.

"Our focus is on how we proactively look forward and work with the players, rather than be concerned with what has happened in the past."

He also questioned whether anything new came out of the interviews, given an investigation had previously pointed to Warner as the mastermind and he had admitted responsibility for his part.

Smith and Warner were banned for a year from international and domestic cricket while Bancroft was suspended for nine months. He is due to make his return this weekend.