Australia’s visit to South Africa has been the tour from hell

AUSTRALIA’S disastrous tour has seen physical confrontations, abuse of wives, sledging by spectators and a whole lot drama.

THE 2018 Test series between South Africa and Australia has been plagued by controversy on and off the field.

A stunning confession of ball tampering by Australian captain Steve Smith and teammate Cameron Bancroft was the latest in a series flashpoints that have made this visit to South Africa a tour from hell for the Aussies.

Speaking on the weekend former national skipper Michael Clarke said the way Australia has reacted to adversity on this tour suggests something was amiss before the series started.

“I don’t know if they were angry, if they were tired, if they were frustrated — I don’t know why, but they were,” Clarke said on Channel Nine.

“Every little thing that has happened on this tour, they’ve whinged, they’ve complained, they haven’t got their own way.

“I feel like everyone’s under pressure in that changeroom, they feel like they need to do something like this to beat South Africa and this is what they’ve gone to.

“Nobody’s thought about it at all.”

Here’s how the disastrous tour has unfolded.

BEFORE THE SERIES STARTED

Australia’s tour got off on the wrong foot before a ball was bowled when its request to match officials and the host broadcaster for stump microphones to be turned down in between deliveries was rejected.

Instead, stump microphones appeared to be on even when the ball was dead during the first Test in Durban.

The Australians at least used the opportunity to have a bit of fun, plugging their sponsors to viewers in their lounge rooms during play.

Read: Aussies’ perfect stump microphone stitch-up

FIRST TEST, DURBAN

Warner had to be restrained.

Australian vice-captain David Warner and South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock clashed as the teams headed for the dressing rooms during a break in play and teammates had to physically restrain Warner from confronting de Kock.

Warner claimed he was reacting to a “vile and disgusting” remark about his wife Candice by de Kock.

Both players were punished for the bust-up with Warner fined 75 per cent of his match fee and de Kock 25 per cent.

Warner said he was used to taking flak from fans and opposition players, but claimed de Kock’s remark crossed a line.

“In a proximity of my personal space and from behind me, a comment that was vile and disgusting about my wife, and in general about a lady, was quite poor, I felt,” Warner said.

“My emotional response was just something that I don’t believe should have been said and I’ll always stick up for my family and in that case my teammates as well.”

Read: Warner lashes disgusting act of cowardice

Per The Daily Telegraph, the Aussies reportedly quizzed umpires in Durban about how the Proteas bowlers were getting the ball to reverse swing so early in an innings. A player allegedly made the inquiry before the start of play on day two.

“How the f*** could they get the ball to reverse swing after 18 overs yesterday?” the player reportedly asked officials Kumar Dharmasena and Sundaram Ravi.

SECOND TEST, PORT ELIZABETH

Cricket South Africa officials were caught posing with fans wearing Williams masks.

Warner’s wife was the subject of more ugly taunts when the series continued in Port Elizabeth.

Some fans arrived at the ground wearing masks of rugby union star Sonny Bill Williams to mock Candice because she had a drunken sexual encounter with the footballer in the bathroom of a Sydney pub more than 10 years ago.

To make matters worse, two Cricket South Africa (CSA) officials were photographed smiling alongside fans wearing Williams masks, prompting the sports governing body in South Africa to apologise to Cricket Australia, players and their families.

Read: Shameful new low in WAG bullying

Read: Drunken mistake sparks WAG attacks

Warner also found himself in the spotlight when questions were raised in Port Elizabeth from the South African camp about the amount of bandaging he had on his hands and whether that was being used to tamper with the ball.

No officials complaints were made and nothing came of those suspicions.

In the same Test South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada was originally banned for two matches after barging into Smith after dismissing him LBW. However, Rabada successfully appealed and was cleared to play in the third Test in Cape Town, baffling Smith.

“The ICC have set the standard, haven’t they? There was clearly contact out in the middle,” said Smith.

“I certainly won’t be telling my bowlers to go out there and after you take a wicket go and get in their space. I don’t think that is on and part of the game. But the standard has been set.”

Warner and his family have come under fire.

THIRD TEST, CAPE TOWN

Australia laid an official complaint over what coach Darren Lehmann labelled “disgraceful” behaviour by spectators in Cape Town.

The principal target was Warner, who was approached by a spectator in the members’ stand after he was dismissed, causing Warner to stop and turn as he climbed the steps to the dressing room.

The pair exchanged heated words with unconfirmed reports saying the spectator was evicted from the ground.

Some spectators who aimed lewd chants at Warner’s wife were ejected from Newlands.

“You are talking about abuse of various players and their families and personal abuse,” said Lehmann.

“It’s not on at a cricket game — not just here, it shouldn’t happen. You can have banter, that’s good fun, but it’s gone too far here.”

Read: Lehmann blasts ‘disgraceful’ behaviour

On Sunday morning (AEDT), Smith and Bancroft admitted to ball-tampering after Bancroft was seen using a yellow object to alter the condition of the ball.

“I want to be accountable for my actions,” said Bancroft.

Smith admitted it was a premeditated plan: “The leadership group knew about it. We spoke about it at lunch. I’m not proud of what happened. It’s not in the spirit of the game.”

— with AFP