Steve Smith, David Warner, Cameron Bancroft only players who knew of ball tampering: Sutherland

Sport greats question Cricket Australia’s finding only Steve Smith, Dave Warner and Cameron Bancroft knew about the ball tamper plot.

Cricket greats have cast doubts on Cricket Australia’s claim only that Steve Smith, Dave Warner and Cameron Bancroft, had prior knowledge of the ball tampering plot.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke says the Test team won’t recover until everything about the ball-tampering scandal is revealed.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland says an investigation has found only stood-down captain Smith, vice-captain Warner, and Cameron Bancroft knew about the plan. Sutherland said no other players or support staff, including coach Darren Lehmann, were involved and Lehmann would stay.

But many, including former high-profile players, say it was hard to believe that only three people knew.

“To(o) many reputations on the line for the full story not to come out. Cape Town change room is a very small place!,” Clarke tweeted shortly after Sutherland’s Johannesburg press conference this morning.

“The truth, The full story, Accountability and Leadership- until the public get this Australian cricket is in deep s***!

The truth, The full story, Accountability and Leadership- until the public get this Australian cricket is in deep shit!

— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 27, 2018

Smith initially said the “leadership team” knew of the plan for Bancroft to tamper with the ball during play last Saturday.

“Cam Bancroft must be captaincy material ... In the Leadership group in only his 7th Test ... !!!” former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted. “Me thinks the Hole has just got a little deeper & bigger for Cricket Australia.”

Me thinks the Hole has just got a little deeper & bigger for Cricket Australia .....

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 27, 2018

Another former England captain, Kevin Pietersen, tweeted “Lehmann never knew” accompanied by 100 laughing emojis.

Lehmann never knew - 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥

— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 27, 2018

Radio host Alan Jones said Lehmann must go as he “clearly wasn’t in control’’ of the team.

“A meeting was held in the dressing room on a critical issue like ball-tampering and the players elected to bypass him. Lehmann is not needed,’’ Jones tweeted.

It is extraordinary that Darren Lehmann continues as coach when clearly he wasn't in control of the team. A meeting was held in the dressing room on a critical issue like ball-tampering and the players elected to bypass him. Lehmann is not needed #CricketAustralia

— Alan Jones (@AlanJones) March 28, 2018

But former Australian Test player Merv Hughes said he had no reason to question CA’s response. “James Sutherland is not going to go in there and tell lies. He’s going to go in there and say what he’s been told,” Hughes, who is leading a tour group of the series, told the ABC from Johannesburg.

Well-renowned Australian cricket commentator Jim Maxwell said that he thought opening batsman Warner, a divisive figure in the world game, would bear the brunt of the sanctions and was the brains of the ball-tampering plan.

“Warner’s the one who really should wear most of this, and I’ll be very surprised if he plays for Australia again,” Maxwell told BBC Radio 5 Live. “He’s clearly been ostracised by the rest of the players, I could see that in the body language on the plane, so I think he’s pretty close to persona non grata from here on.”

England’s Australian coach Trevor Bayliss admits he is embarrassed by the ball- tampering shame which has engulfed his compatriots on their Test tour of South Africa.

Bayliss, who oversaw England’s 4-0 defeat in Australia this winter, has echoed the insistence of captain Joe Root and senior seamer Stuart Broad that the Ashes tourists had no reason to suspect any sharp practice from their hosts. But as a former mentor of Smith when Australia’s newly-deposed captain was a young NSW all-rounder, he has been shocked by events in Cape Town this week.

“I’m obviously disappointed — and as an Australian I’m embarrassed,” said Bayliss. “Steve is a lovely young bloke who has made a terrible mistake, and I’m sure Cricket Australia (CA) will work out the course of action required.”

Asked if England had any suspicions about Australian ball-tampering during the Ashes, however, he said: “No. I thought we were outplayed by a much better team.” Bayliss does wonder if Australia’s often uncompromising tactics of late - not specifically ball-tampering - meant they so alienated some opponents that they had the flak coming once it was clear they transgressed.

“I think a lot of what they’re copping at the moment comes from the way they have played their game,” he added. “It’s almost like teams and people around the world have been waiting for them to stuff up, so they can lay the boot in.”

‘Ball tampering limited to three’

Mr Sutherland spoke to the media just after 7pm South African time (4am AEST) after flying in that morning, saying he “shared the anger and disappointment of Australian cricket fans”.

The press conference was broadcast live around the world.

Lehmann survived, but Smith, Warner and Bancroft will catch a plane to Australia today after the preliminary findings into the ball tampering scandal.

The Cricket Australia Board endorsed Tim Paine as captain, a remarkable rise for a man who could not get a game for his state at the start of the summer.

Sutherland said CA’s head of integrity Iain Roy had completed a preliminary investigation and that he was satisfied Smith, Warner and Bancroft were the only three involved in the plot to use tape to damage the ball.

He denied reports Lehmann had offered to resign and said the coach would continue under his existing contract.

Sutherland said “significant sanctions” would be laid under section 2.3.5 in the CA code of conduct which covers conduct contrary to the spirit of the game and that brings the game into disrepute.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland: 'The key finding is that prior knowledge of the ball tampering incident was limited to three players: @stevesmith49, @davidwarner31 and @cbancroft4.'

MORE: https://t.co/YyyqbKFrgu #FirstEdition pic.twitter.com/LOuCToZBQM

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) March 27, 2018

“I want to stress that we are contemplating significant sanctions in each case. 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.

“We want Australian cricket fans to be proud of the Australian cricket team ... we will take the necessary stops to address that.”

The three replacement players to replace Smith, Warner and Bancroft are Matthew Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns. They will fly to Johannesburg in the next 24 hours.

Sanctions are expected to be announced within the next 24 hours.

A letter from James Sutherland to Australian cricket fans pic.twitter.com/N63QHGlcYZ

— Peter Lalor (@plalor) March 27, 2018

“We understand and share the anger of fans and the broader Australian community about the events that unfolded in Cape Town on Saturday,” chairman of Cricket Australia David Peever said.

“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.

“That depends as much on the way the players conduct themselves, as it does about winning or losing.

“It is about how we play the game,” Peever concluded.

Sutherland refused to be drawn on whether the incident was “cheating” but was clearly angry.

“In view of the broader reputational and integrity issues involved, the sanctions that will be contemplated are significant,” Sutherland said.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland address the media in South Africa. Photo: AFP

“The process must therefore be thorough to ensure that all relevant issues have been examined.

“I understand the appetite for urgency given the reputation of Australia as a sporting nation has been damaged in the eyes of many. However, urgency must be balanced with due process given the serious implications for all involved.

“In addition to sanctions for individuals, Cricket Australia will initiate an independent review into the conduct and culture of our Australian men’s teams.

“We will have more to say about this review in the coming days, but it will be conducted by an expert panel who will report to the Cricket Australia Board,” Sutherland concluded.

Additional reporting by Jacquelin Magnay in London, agencies