Cricket ball tampering scandal: Emotional Cameron Bancroft says he is embarrassed by his actions
AN emotional Cameron Bancroft has fronted the media in Perth where he apologised for his role in the ball-tampering scandal that has rocked Australian cricket.
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UPDATE: An emotional Cameron Bancroft asked for forgiveness Thursday over his part in the ball-tampering scandal, saying he was ashamed of himself, but refused to comment on the role David Warner played.
Bancroft was banned for nine months after using sandpaper to scratch the surface of the ball during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town in an incident that sent shockwaves through the sport and that he said he would regret “for the rest of his life”.
He then tried to hide the evidence down his trousers, only to be caught on camera.
The 25-year-old opening batsman, who has played just eight Tests, will also be required to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket.
LIVE BLOG: Full coverage of the ball tampering scandal
KEY FINDINGS: They lied, it was sandpaper
“It is something I will regret for the rest of my life. All I can do in the short term is ask for forgiveness,” Bancroft, who was close to tears, told reporters in Perth after arriving home from Johannesburg.
“I feel like I’ve let everyone down in Australia and I’m not proud of that, it will take time for that to heal and earn the respect back.
“Through this whole experience and whirlwind few days it’s been obvious to see how much the game means to Australia and the public, and we are representations of that. It’s been a big wake up call for what that means.” Cricket Australia said Bancroft had attempted to “artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper”, with the aim being to generate more swing for Australia’s bowlers.
Warner, who was also sent home and banned for a year, was charged with developing the plot and instructing Bancroft to carry it out.
Bancroft said it did want to comment on other players, and denied he had ever tampered with a ball before.
“I’m not here to comment about other players. I want to show how sorry I am, at the end of the day they are my actions and I am accountable,” he said.
“I have never ever been involved in tampering with a ball (before now) ... it compromises my values and what I stand for as a player and a person.” He declined to say whether he felt his ban was too harsh or whether he planned to appeal, only that he respected the process and “I will work with my manager and we’ll move forward with that”.
FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE CAMERON BANCROFT MEDIA CONFERENCE
I want to say that I’m very sorry. I love the game of cricket, and playing for my nation and my state, there’s no greater pride for me. I’m extremely disappointed and regret my actions. I’m sorry too, to those people who looked up to me around the world, especially the kids. I know I’m a role model and I’ve not acted like one. I understand I have let many people down and I understand the disappointment in the broader community.
Words don’t mean much in these circumstances so I’ll focus on my actions and conduct going forward. Not a second has gone by since last Saturday evening when I hadn’t wanted to turn back time and do the right thing during the lunch break. It is something I’ll regret for the rest of my life, something I’ll look to improve on .... All I can do in the short term is ask for forgiveness, I hope you can find it in your hearts to allow me to progress on that journey. For now I’ll do my best to contribute to the community and I’m happy to take some questions.
Why did you lie about the sandpaper?
Yes I lied. I lied about the sandpaper, and I just I panicked, I panicked in that situation and I’m very sorry.
Look, I made a comment about other players involved. I just want to show how sorry I am and at the end of the day it’s my actions and I’m accountable for it here and they don’t reflect on my values that I was growing up to be and it’s something that I’m really ashamed of and I’m so sorry for.
Through this whole experience, this few days it’s been so obvious to see how important the game of cricket means to Australia and the public and we’re representations of that and for me it’s been a very big wake up call to myself for what that means and how amazing an opportunity it is to wear the baggy green cap and I feel like I’ve let everyone down in Australia and I’m not proud of that and I know that it’s going to take time for that to heal and to earn that respect back from everyone.
Will you play cricket again?
Yes absolutely. I think through the last few days and sitting in my own company and thinking, the thing that breaks my heart the most is the fact that I’ve just given up on my team, just lost my (spot) in the team to someone else. People know that I’ve worked so hard to get to this point in my career and to know that I’ve just given someone else an opportunity for free is devastating for me and I know that it’s going to be a difficult journey back but the moment that I step foot outside, the moment that I [unclear for a few seconds] and to get back that dream that I’ve had as a kid growing up is playing test cricket for Australia.
At the moment I’ve received the paperwork for my sanction and I respect the process that’s going to come with that and I’ll work with my manager and we’ll move forward with that.
In the whole Australian cricket family everyone’s really disappointed about what we’ve done to the game. I think it’s a great shock to everyone and a great realization that we need to improve.
I have never ever been involved in tampering with the ball and it completely compromises my values and what I stand for as a player and a person and for Australian cricketers it’s not acceptable.
I had the opportunity to take control of my own values and my own actions and I didn’t and that’s really embarrassing for me and I’m sorry...it’s just a responsibility that I completely take on myself.
It’s so big because the action of doing it is completely wrong and for me to carry out that in front of world cricket and to be seen breaking the laws of the game, not playing in the spirit of the game.