Cricket ball tampering scandal: Steve Smith and David Warner banned from cricket for 12 months, Cameron Bancroft facing nine month ban
STEVE Smith and David Warner have been banned from cricket for 12 months while Cameron Bancroft faces a nine month ban.
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UPATE: STEVE Smith and David Warner have been banned from cricket for 12 months while Cameron Bancroft faces a nine month ban.
The trio can appeal against the finding and the sentence, The Australian understands that Smith and Warner have already consulted lawyers in preparation.
The trio were told the news in the team hotel just after breakfast this morning.
Smith looked resigned to his fate as he left for the meeting and later emerged to tell his team mates who were still at breakfast. They were all grim faced as he told them.
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Smith, Warner and Bancroft will fly out later today. Their replacements are due to fly in, but what was left of the Australian cricket team could not summon the energy to train yesterday.
Sides traditionally have their biggest training session two days out from the Test. While few are focused on the cricket they deny there is talk of wanting to forfeit the match.
In a press conference which was televised live across South Africa, Australia and the UK, Sutherland claimed that a 24 hour inquiry into the ball tampering affair had found only Smith, Warner and Bancroft knew of the plan.
Steve Smith I think is a good guy who made a huge mistake ... He needed punishing but I think this is too harsh ... Bancroft who I don’t know was led astray but deserved punishing but again too harshly IMO ... The other guy I really don’t care about ...
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 28, 2018
“These sanctions will reflect the gravity with which we view what has occurred and the damage it has done to the standing of Australian cricket,” Sutherland said.
“The key finding is that prior knowledge of the ball tampering incident was limited to three players: Captain Steve Smith, Vice captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
“No other players or support staff had prior knowledge and this includes Darren Lehmann who despite inaccurate media reports, has not resigned from his position. He will continue to coach the Australian men’s team under his current contract.”
A number of former players with recent experience in the team contacted The Australian to express disbelief that only three were involved and that the coaches were oblivious.
“The truth, the full story, Accountability and Leadership- until the public get this Australian cricket is in deep shit!,” former captain Michael Clarke said.
“Too many reputations on the line for the full story not to come out. Cape Town change room is a very small place!”
The South Africans believe the Australians have been ball tampering for some time. Even the claim that it was sticking plaster and not sandpaper is being questioned.
Former English players reaction was scathing. Former captain Michael Vaughan said the hole was “getting deeper” for Australian cricket, Matt Prior also dismissed the notion the scheme was contained to three people “In EVERY team I played in good luck doing anything to the ball without consulting the bowlers first! Be taking your life in your own hands!” He said.
Kevin Pietersen also weighed in.
“I’ve woken up this morning actually gutted for Smith, Warner and Bancroft,” he said. “Yes they were involved and will be sanctioned but I’m afraid they weren’t the only ones (and I don’t think anyone else believes they were) ... I hope they get a fair trial.”
The Australian Cricketers Association is providing legal support to the players, but The Australian understands that Warner and Smith’s management have both consulted privately with lawyers. The trio can accept the sanctions or have hearings under the Code of Conduct.
“The players are remorseful for the mistakes they have made,” ACA chief executive Alistair Nicholson said. “They regret how their actions have represented themselves, team mates, cricket and country.
“The ACA is providing legal and welfare support to all players. Welfare of all players is a highly relevant consideration.”
Warner will not go quietly. He has fallen out with team mates, is annoyed that the focus is on him and may have nothing to lose as a long ban will see him walk away from Australian cricket.
Smith, Sutherland said, is devastated. The deposed captain said yesterday he has not been sleeping and is struggling to cope. He is resigned to a long ban and an even longer journey back.
Warner was yesterday forced to step down as captain of his IPL franchise and the IPL subseqently banned both he and Smith from the competition this year. Warner and Smith have both lost lucrative personal sponsorships in the fall out.
“This assessment must include all contributing parties to this culture, players, coaches and administrators, programs and systems, behaviours and accountabilities,” said ACA President Greg Dyer.
“Australia’s core values of respect, integrity and fairness must be brought to bear on the game of cricket through such a process.
“The ACA offers its full endeavours to an independent cultural examination, diagnosis and ultimately remedy which must occur in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
“Australian cricket must remind itself of its purpose that cricket is a teacher of an important Australian life lesson and that is to play with honour first and always.”