Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft could yet see an early end to the bans they're currently serving for their involvement in the ball-tampering incident in the Newlands Test in March this year. Cricket Australia is said to be considering the plea put forth by the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) for the punishments to be shortened. According to Fairfax Media, the board is expected to huddle up in a meeting this week to discuss whether the bans should indeed be reduced.

As per the original decision, the bans on Smith and Warner are to stay till March 29, 2019 while Bancroft's time away is until December 29 this year. If reduced with immediate effect, it might even allow the trio to be available for selection for the home series against India, starting with the T20Is on November 21.

The reduction of the bans has been up for debate for quite some time now and saw further deliberation in the wake of the Longstaff review that squared the blame for the ball-tampering saga on the 'win without counting costs' culture created by Cricket Australia.

ACA wrote a 13-point reaction to the developments in regards to the review, and stated in their official release: "Given there is now independent verification that CA's system and culture were contributing factors, the ACA Executive calls for the lifting of the Board imposed penalties on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft."

"My message to Cricket Australia is a simple one: these contrite men have been punished enough. Let these contrite men play," Dyer said."I add that the ACA will be relentless in pursuing this end."