Cameron Bancroft confirms David Warner suggested using sandpaper in South Africa

Cameron Bancroft follows Steve Smith’s lead in opening up on what happened before the sandpaper scandal in South Africa.

Cameron Bancroft attempts to hide the piece of sandpaper down his pants in South Africa. Picture: Fox Sports

Cameron Bancroft has followed Steve Smith’s lead in opening up on what happened behind the scenes before the sandpaper scandal in South Africa.

The young opener confirmed Cricket Australia’s finding that the plan was David Warner’s.

Speaking to Adam Gilchrist in an interview which will be televised at lunch on Fox Cricket, the opener who was banned for nine months for using sandpaper on the ball said he was trying to fit in.

"Dave suggested to me to carry out the action" Cameron Bancroft sits down with @gilly381 in an open and honest interview on the Cape Town ball-tampering incident. https://t.co/Q4jKB3Iqgj pic.twitter.com/x022uDtiI3

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 26, 2018

“Dave (Warner) suggested to me to carry the action out on the ball given the situation we were in the game and I didn’t know any better,” Bancroft said.

“I didn’t know any better because I just wanted to fit in and feel valued really. As simple as that.

“The decision was based around my values, what I valued at the time and I valued fitting in … you hope that fitting in earns you respect and with that, I guess, there came a pretty big cost for the mistake.”

Cameron Bancroft (left) and Steve Smith speak to the media after the Australian team’s ball tampering against South Africa was revealed. Picture: AFP

The Cricket Australia inquiry into the scandal pinned the blame on Warner for “development” of a plan and encouraging a junior player to carry it out.

Smith revealed last week that he saw the pair talking and said “I don’t want to know”.

Bancroft documented his journey of self discovery since the incident in a letter he wrote to himself which was published on the weekend.

He told Gilchrist in the interview that nine months ago he would have been down on himself for not doing what Warner asked.

“I would have gone to bed and I would have felt like I had let everybody down,” Bancroft said. “I would have felt like I had let the team down. I would have left like I had hurt our chances to win the game of cricket.”

Australian openers Cameron Bancroft (left) and David Warner leave the middle in Newlands, South Africa. Picture: Reuters

Bancroft said he had undergone a difficult self examination and cricket in Australia needed to do the same.

“The reason why it was painful is because the truth hurts. Maybe in that review there was some truths that were pretty hard to accept.

“What does that bring? It brings an amazing opportunity to do something about it. Only Cricket Australia will know if they are being true to themselves, to be able to own up to some of those recommendations. If they can look at themselves in the mirror and be really content and be really peaceful, and proud of the direction they’re going, that’s OK.

“If they aren’t, like me, that value will always come undone won’t it? It will present itself in the face to you and you’ll have to learn another lesson.”

Steve Smith has also done an interview with broadcasters.

Warner has kept quiet, removing himself form social media.