David Warner and Steve Smith will be welcomed back with open arms: Aaron Finch

With the ball-tampering scandal gaining centre stage after Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith’s elaborate interviews with Adam Gilchrist on the opening day of the Boxing Day Test, Australia batsman Aaron Finch said that the trio will be welcomed back with open arms.

While Smith and David Warner’s 12-month suspension term completes in March, Bancroft will mark his return to competitive cricket on Saturday when he plays for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.

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“When Davey and Steve are ready to make their – be allowed to come back and play cricket for Australia and their states – from my point of view they’ll be welcomed back with open arms,” Finch, Australia’s ODI captain, was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Thursday.

“Whatever’s happened, has happened. The punishment has been dealt. They’ve been working really hard off the field to meet every criteria, and go above and beyond everything that has been asked of them, to come back and play international cricket again.”

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Finch’s comments come after coach Justin Langer called Smith the Virat Kohli of the Test team and added he was impressed with the attitudes of the trio as they prepare for their comebacks.

Finch added that neither he nor the team have spoken much about the publicised interviews, but only read some social media headlines.

“There hasn’t been any chat about it in the changeroom at all to be fair,” he said.