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World reacts to James Sutherland’s ball tampering press conference

FORMER Australian Test cricket captain Michael Clarke has led calls for more information on what really happened in the South Africa ball tampering scandal, as the world reacts to Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland’s press conference.

Staff writers
2 min read
March 28, 2018 - 8:52AM
The fallout fro the ball tampering scandal continues.
The fallout fro the ball tampering scandal continues.

FORMER Australian Test cricket captain Michael Clarke has led calls for more information on what really happened in the South Africa ball tampering scandal.

Clarke took to Twitter following Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland’s press conference, saying Australia deserved to know more than investigations were ongoing.

And he wasn’t the only one, with a host of other cricketing stars legends and commentators voicing their concerns.

Australian cricketing legend Allan Border said he was unsure about the best course of action to be taken on those involved in the scandal.

“It’s a tough one for me to answer,” Border said. “ICC have rules and regulations, if we cut to the chase this is about ball tampering, this is not isolated to this Test it’s been going on a long time.

“I think we hold our cricketers to a higher order than most. This has been incredible, the reaction has been enormous. It’s hard to get a judgement form me.

“ICC was one match for Smith and Bancroft, Aus cricket board will come over the top of that, Sutherland said it would be serious. Yes there has to be a sanction, how long that is, I can’t say.”

Meanwhile, former Australian Test batsman Adam Voges says it is “genuinely possible” Lehmann and other players did not know about the ball tampering plans.

“Being in a cricketing change room throughout the last 16 years of my life, the lunchtime break is not generally a time where you sit down purely as a group and discuss a lot of things,” Voges said on SEN radio in Melbourne.

“It isn’t really until you step back onto the field and the captain has a bit of a say about what the plans are coming up to the next session that everybody is together again at the same time.

“So I think it’s genuinely possible that the three guys that have already been mentioned are the only guys who did know about it at the time.”

Voges, who is currently commentating in South Africa, said he had been in contact with some members of the Australian team who were “struggling” with the saga.

How british media saw Sutherland's press conference.
How british media saw Sutherland's press conference.

Former Test bowler Stuart Clark said everyone involved in the ball tampering scandal had already received the ultimate punishment.

“They will be remembered for this their whole lives, the punishment is already there,” Clark said.

“It’s very obvious ball tampering is considered cheating, not everyone does it, but changing the condition of the ball has happened numerous time. I don’t know why he didn’t say cheating, I think it would restore some faith from the public. He needs to call a spade a spade.

“I feel sorry for the fact they will have to live with this for the rest of their lives especially given the status they hold in cricket - Smith has been compared to Bradman, there’s not many before him that have. I worry about the mental health.

They have to live with this whether they play for Australia again or not. Yes, they have to be punished but there is a human side, they must me monitored. Hopefully over time they can find forgiveness.”

Former English cricketer Bob Willis was left stunned at Cricket Australia’s insistance Lehmann was not involved.

“I find it remarkable Lehmann didn’t know about this and he’s be exonerated,” Willis said.

“The reputation of Australia has gone down and down under his and Smith’s watch.

“I find it almost unbelievable. Lehman is lucky to survive.”

Originally published as World reacts to James Sutherland’s ball tampering press conference

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