Steve Waugh shares his thoughts on Australia’s ball tampering scandal

STEVE Waugh is one of most respected voices in cricket, which is why his take on Australia’s scandal is all you need to hear.

FORMER Australian skipper Steve Waugh has taken Steve Smith and Co. to task in a lengthy message directed at the Australian cricket team, accusing the humiliated side of failing the baggy green.

The famed batsman and stoic leader captained the national side to one of its highest points since Don Bradman’s Invincibles in the 1940s.

As legendary as the boy from Panania was with the bat, his expertise at the crease will always be overshadowed by his ferocious leadership and burning desire to win.

Sledging — or, as Waugh described it, “mental disintegration” — never took a back seat under his 57-match leadership between 1998 and 2004, a period which saw Australia lose just nine Tests.

But in his 168-match tenure across a glittering 19-year Test career, “Tugga” never had to deal with a controversy so damaging to the image of Australian cricket.

The 52-year-old lambasted his former side after an unfathomable turn of events saw Steve Smith banned by the ICC for overseeing ball tampering in the third Test in Cape Town.

Waugh revealed he’d been messaged by thousands of “heartbroken” fans after the ugly footage in Cape Town was exposed.

“Like many, I’m deeply troubled by the events in Cape Town this last week, and acknowledge the thousands of messages I have received, mostly from heartbroken cricket followers worldwide,” Waugh said in a statement on Tuesday.

A “heartbroken” Steve Waugh has shared his sombre take.

“The Australian Cricket team has always believed it could win in any situation against any opposition, by playing combative, skilful and fair cricket, driven by our pride in the fabled Baggy Green.

“I have no doubt the current Australian team continues to believe in this mantra, however some have now failed our culture, making a serious error of judgment in the Cape Town Test match.”

Waugh urged Cricket Australia to revisit the Spirit of Cricket document as the national side deals with a complete leadership overhaul.

READ MORE: The fall of golden boy Smith

“In 2003, we modified the Spirit of Cricket document originally created by the M.C.C., to empower our players to set their own standards and commit to play the Australian way,” Waugh said.

“We must urgently revisit this document, rebind our players to it and ensure the spirit in which we play is safeguarded for the future of the sport, and to continue to inspire the dreams of every young kid picking up a bat and ball and for every fan who lives and breathes the game.

“A focused and balanced perspective is needed in the condemnation on those involved in this, with a clear and critical consideration to the social impact and mental health of all players.

“I will support all positive action to ensure an outcome for the betterment of the game, regaining the trust and faith of every fan of cricket.”

Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will fly home tomorrow and will be replaced in the touring party by Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns and Glenn Maxwell.

Warner was reportedly the ringleader in the ball tampering affair.

Warner reportedly angered his teammates by drinking with friends in the team’s hotel bar.

Fox Sports Australia reported several of Australia’s Test team were unaware of the plot to tamper the ball until footage emerged on the big screen, leaving a large portion of the squad furious at the former Aussie vice-captain.

Warner reportedly removed himself from a WhatsApp group with fellow players, while one source claimed the opening batsman had “gone rogue”.

Warner then rubbed salt into his teammates’ wounds by reportedly swilling champagne with friends at the Aussie team’s Cape Town hotel following the international outrage.

A number of his teammates reportedly asked Cricket Australia bosses to “remove” him from the hotel, warning of an incoming “incident” if he stayed.