James Sutherland says just three players knew of ball-tampering plan

THREE Australian stars, including a “distraught” Steve Smith, have been kicked off tour. But the coach has escaped punishment.

CRICKET Australia CEO James Sutherland has said just three players knew about the ball-tampering plan beforehand, absolving other team members from responsibility.

“The key finding is that prior knowledge was limited to three players, Steve Smith, David Warner, Cameron Bancroft,” said the CA chief. “No other players or support staff had prior knowledge. 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 (until the end of the 2019 Ashes).”

Sutherland said Smith was “distraught, very upset” after the captain admitted the team’s “leadership group” had conspired to tamper with the ball as the Aussies sat in danger of losing to the home side in the third Test against South Africa.

Australia’s captain Steve Smith is said to be ‘very upset’ as he heads home in disgrace along with two teammates after the ball-tampering scandal. Picture: AFP Photo/AFP TV/STR

David Warner is accused of being the ringleader, and is said to have gone rogue since the saga began, angering other players by drinking champagne in the hotel bar. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Some senior players were said to have been unhappy at his use of the phrase “leadership group” because they felt it implicated them, as a rift deepened within the team.

Smith, Warner and Bancroft will leave South Africa tomorrow and be replaced for the rest of the series, Sutherland revealed during a press conference in Johannesburg at around 7.20pm local time (4.20am AEDT).

“Significant sanctions” against the disgraced trio are likely to be revealed in the next 24 hours, once an investigation is complete.

Whether Smith will remain captain is doubtful, with Sutherland saying “it’s not appropriate at this stage” to comment on whether he could ever lead the team again. Warner will almost certainly be stripped of the vice-captaincy and may have played his last game for Australia.

The CA chief executive said the scandal was “extraordinarily bad” for Australian cricket and he shared in the “anger and disappointment” of fans.

Australia’s captain Smith, right with teammate Cameron Bancroft, admitted to ball-tampering during the third Test against South Africa. Picture: AFP Photo/AFP TV/STR

Asked if this was cheating, Sutherland was scathing of the incident but refused to directly answer the question.

He said the players had been officially reported for breaching article CA’s Code of Conduct and would be replaced by Matthew Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns.

Tim Paine has been appointed Australia’s 46th Test captain, he revealed.

“On behalf of Cricket Australia, I want to apologise to all Australians that these events have taken place, particularly to the kids,” said Sutherland.

Australian team cancels tomorrow’s training session. This is a team in mourning. Extraordinary.

— Peter Lalor (@plalor) March 27, 2018

“I want to apologise to Cricket South Africa and the South African fans that this issue has overshadowed what should have been a wonderful series.

“It is not a good day for Australian cricket.”

He said the public reaction was “not terribly surprising” and was “a reminder of how important the game is to Australian fans.”

The CA boss said the sanctions over the saga would reflect “the damage it has done to the standing of Australian cricket.”

Emotional Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said he shared in the ‘anger and disappointment’ of the fans. Picture: AFP Photo/Gulshan Khan

Australia chairman David Peever said in a statement: “This issue goes beyond the technical nature of the offences and various codes of conduct. It is about the integrity and reputation of Australian Cricket and Australian sport.

“Ultimately, it is about whether Australians can feel proud of their national sporting teams.”

Sutherland flew into South Africa to talk to CA’s head of high performance Pat Howard, who has been conducting a review of Australia’s ball-tampering saga.

The controversy has sent the national side’s international reputation spiralling after opening batsman Bancroft was revealed to be roughing up the ball with a piece of tape on day three of the third Test in Cape Town.

Much of the cricket world is unconvinced that it really was only the three players who knew about the ball-tampering plan.

Fairfax reported on Tuesday that vice-captain Warner was the ringleader in the plan to illegally tamper with the ball. The disgraced 31-year-old, who stepped down from his captaincy role alongside Smith for the remainder of the match, was revealed to have gone “rogue” in the days following the Test.

Darren Lehmann will remain as Australia coach, despite reports to the contrary. Picture: AP Photo/Themba Hadebe

Warner reportedly left a WhatsApp group with Australian players and angered his teammates by drinking champagne at their hotel bar — although he has now rejoined the social media chat.

Unnamed players reportedly requested the opening batsman to be “removed” from the group, warning an “incident” would soon break out between the disgruntled players, with Warner said to feel hurt because he believes the team has made him look like a villain.

Australia made immediate moves to replace its banished opening batting pair by flying over dropped star Renshaw on Tuesday. The 21-year-old impressed on his debut summer in the baggy green.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reiterated on Tuesday that it had been “a shocking affront to Australia” and Cricket Australia must act “decisively and emphatically”.

Originally published as James Sutherland says just three players knew of ball-tampering plan