Cricket News: Steve Smith, David Warner to gel with Australia squad before IPL

Steve Smith and David Warner’s formal reintegration will start earlier than expected, with the banned duo to join the ODI squad for one day in the UAE. Smith and Warner are set to front World Cup teammates later this week in Dubai prior to joining their respective Indian Premier League franchises for the Twenty20 tournament that begins on 23 March. The face-to-face meetings are the surest sign, yet the gifted batsmen will be part of Australia’s World Cup defence, as has long been the widespread expectation. Smith and Warner are not expected to train, with the focus of their stopover instead on breaking the ice after the year in exile. The stopover will also give medical staff a chance to assess the pair’s fitness after they underwent elbow surgery in January. Both players have resumed batting but it is unclear how restricted they will be in the field during the IPL.