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The Cape Town ball-tampering saga is far from cricket’s first. Cameron Bancroft and Steven Smith’s confessions were the latest in a string of revelations made over the years, but what made it different is the timing, an instant acceptance forced by all the video evidence against them. Here are seven times when cricketers have confessed to ball-tampering, often by far more vicious methods than the use of sandpaper.

Long before reverse swing in the 1980s.. ..there were Arthur Mailey and Ted McDonald
Mailey, a legspinner who played for Australia in the 1920s, admitted to tampering with the seam of the ball using resin and bird-lime in his tell-all autobiography, 10 for 66 and all that, published in 1958
In a separate chapter titled “Tinkering with the rules”, Mailey explained how he repeatedly used foreign substances to help lift the seam, “a peculiarity which allows the new ball to swerve more than an old one on which the stitches have been battered flat”
Mailey was once caught cheating by England captain Johnny Douglas, but on immediately looking at the latter’s thumbnail being worn to the bone on the outside, found out that he had been lifting the seams too. The matter was settled then and there

John Lever and vaseline-gate – When the physio’s tip toppled India on their own turf
1. During England’s tour to India in 1976-77, John Lever, the Essex left-arm bowler, swung the first Test England’s way, taking ten wickets in Feroze Shah Kotla.
2. By the third Test, India were down 0-2, and had barely worked out how to get past England’s seamers. The England team physio proposed a solution for his bowlers to deal with the heat: strips of Vaseline-soaked gauze stuck on their brows to prevent the perspiration from dripping down their faces.
3. Lever at one point took off his gauze and threw it on the ground, after which it was seized upon by the umpire. Bishan Bedi, the Indian captain, alleged that the bowler had, in effect engaged in ball-tampering – not only in the game underway, but also in Delhi, thus deriving the swing that destroyed India in both Tests.
4. England for their part said that while there had been a technical breach of the law, the offence was totally unintentional

Chris Pringle’s bottle-top wizardry in Faisalabad
New Zealand beat Pakistan at their own reverse-swing game
1. After his side was outdone in the first two Tests on the tour of Pakistan in the autumn of 1990, mostly by prodigious reverse swing, New Zealand bowler Chris Pringle took matters into his own hands.
2. On the first morning of the final Test in Faisalabad, Pringle decided to put to use what he had learned while experimenting in the nets. He cut an old bottle top into quarters and covered the serrated edge with tape, leaving a sharp point exposed.
3. At the first drinks interval the umpires did not ask to look at the ball, and with Pakistan making sedate progress, Pringle began to scratch the ball with the masked bottle top. The results were almost immediate. Pakistan crashed from 35 for 0 to 102 all out and Pringle finished with his best Test figures of 7 for 52.

Imran Khan’s “bottle top” revelations ..and the fallout that ensued
1. In Ivo Tennant’s 1994 biography of him, Imran Khan confessed to having used a bottle top to alter the condition of the ball during a Sussex v Hampshire game in the 1981 county season
2. He later regretted his confession, since it brought him notoriety, instead of his intended purpose of bringing wider attention to rampant ball tampering across cricket

Marcus, Murray Mints, magic
The sweet secret behind England’s Ashes reverse
1. By Ashes 2005, Marcus Trescothick had fashioned himself as the premier spit-shiner in the English side. He found they worked wonders on the Dukes ball used in England, and was designated as the one to work on the ball through the series.
2. Players with sweaty hands were excluded and throws on the bounce banned once the ball was in the right state. Keep the rough side dry and the shiny side pristine.
3. The result was a series of unplayable spells from the likes of Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones throughout the series, as England regained the Ashes after nearly two decades.

Shoaib Akhtar’s explosive post-retirement revelations – Controversially yours.. and how!
1. “Almost all Pakistani fast bowlers have tampered with the ball. I may be the first one to openly admit to it but everybody is doing it”, said Shoaib Akhtar in his autobiography, Controversially Yours, months after retiring from international cricket
2. He went on to admit that he had “tampered with the ball on many occasions”, despite knowing that it was against the laws of the game
3. “There are so many ways to prepare the ball; it’s not just a matter of scratching it. I have used my boot nails and zip of my back pocket. Many bowlers, use vaseline or gum on the ball. The only way to stop this is for the ICC to ensure that at least some pitches are prepared in favour of bowlers”, confessed Akhtar.

Mark Richardson’s “concrete” confessions
1. In the aftermath of the Cameron Bancroft ball-tampering incident, Mark Richardson, the former New Zealand opener, turned out on a local radio show, calling the Australians “slow learners”, calling David Warner “Davey dumb dumb”
2. When pressed by the show’s hosts to reveal his own “cheating” history, he went on to confess that he had once rubbed the cricket ball on a piece of concrete while playing for Otago.
3. Asked if he had ever tampered with the ball for New Zealand, Richardson mentioned that he was “always under the helmet at short-leg and the other guys did the retrieving”

Article courtesy – espncrininfo,com

Cameron Bancroft

Bancroft laments he has thrown away his spot in the teamCameron Bancroft apologized on Thursday for lying about what he had used to scuff up the ball in the third Test against South Africa after it was confirmed he used sandpaper and not sticky tape with granules from the pitch.
“I lied. I lied about the sandpaper,” Bancroft told reporters at a news conference here.
“I panicked in that situation and I’m very sorry. I feel like I’ve let everyone down in Australia.”
The 25-year-old said he had thrown away his spot in the team and that he was determined to win back respect.
“The thing that breaks my heart the most is that I’ve given up my spot in the team for free.
“People know I worked so hard to get to this point in my career and to have given up that chance for free is devastating,” Bancroft added.
Values compromised
“I have never ever been involved in tampering with the ball (before now) and it clearly compromises my values and what I stand for as a player and as a person.
“It’s going to be a really long road particularly for myself to earn that respect back but for me that’s the most important thing.”

Article Courtesy – The  Hindu of 30.03.18

Australia’s David Warner, is seated on the team bus after the arrival of the Australian team to OR Tambo International International airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, March 27, 2018. | Photo Credit: AP

The Australian vice-captain has been identified as the chief plotter of the ball tampering incident in Capetown in South Africa
Banned Australian opener David Warner on Thursday, March 29, 2018, apologised for his role in the ball-tampering scandal, saying he put a “stain on the game he loved as a boy”.
Warner has been identified as the chief plotter of the infamous incident in South Africa, leading to one-year bans on him and captain Steve Smith. Both the players were also barred from this year’s IPL.
“To cricket fans in Australia and all over the world: I am currently on my way back to Sydney. Mistakes have been made which have damaged cricket,” Warner, who was Australia’s vice-captain posted on social media.
“I apologise for my part and take responsibility for it. I understand the distress this has caused the sport and its fans. Its a stain on the game we all love and I have loved since I was a boy.”
The 31-year-old Warner, who can still play club cricket, said he needs time to reassess his future.
“I need to take a deep breath and spend time with my family, friends and trusted advisers. You will hear from me in a few days,” he added.
Following Cricket Australia’s investigation into the scandal, it has come to light that Smith and Cameron Bancroft knew what they were getting into but it was Warner who developed the “plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball”.
Bancroft, who has been handed a nine-month suspension, was caught on camera pulling out sand paper to tamper the ball.
The CA has also made it clear that while Smith still has a chance to captain Australia one year after the end of his ban, Warner will never be considered for a leadership role.
The dangerous opener has been charged for instructing “a junior player to carry out a plan to take steps to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper”.
All the three indicted players have also been ordered to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket.
However, CA has cleared coach Darren Lehmann of any wrongdoing, insisting that he was not aware of the plan hatched by the trio.

Article courtesy – The Hindu of 30.03.18

• With 4014 runs in 114 games@40.54 (strike rate: 142.13), David Warner — who has played in the tournament from 2009 to 2017 — is the top overseas run-scorer in the IPL, and fifth in the list overall. He has hit 36 fifties and three hundreds.
• Warner, leading Sunrisers Hyderabad, was the top runscorer in IPL 2015 & 2017.
• In the 2016 IPL, Warner slammed 848 runs in 17 games @ 60.57, including nine fifties and one hundred,to lead SRH to the title.
• Steve Smith has scored 1703 runs in 69 games in the IPL, in which he has played from 2012 to 2017. He’s played for the Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiant.
• Smith was the fourth topscorer in IPL 2017. He led Pune Supergiants to the final, where they lost to Mumbai Indians.
POSSIBLE REPLACEMENTS:
Joe Root (England): The England captain can replace Smith at Rajasthan Royals. Root went unsold in the auction.
Martin Guptill (New Zealand): The leading run-scorer in T20Is with 2271 runs is an ideal candidate to replace Warner. Wasn’t picked in the auction, to everyone’s surprise.
Luke Ronchi (New Zealand): Has hit form in the PSL, where he was player of the tournament.
Hashim Amla (South Africa): Has hit two IPL 100s. Can get a second chance after going unsold.
Shaun Marsh (Australia): One of the most successful IPL openers. Won the first-ever Orange Cap. Can partner Shikhar Dhawan at the top for Hyderabad.
NET LOSS
Smith and Warner will now miss out on more than Rs 20 crore each by not playing for Australia and IPL over the next 12 months. This figure excludes amount lost in sponsorships.
Smith and Warner have lost IPL contracts worth A$2.4 million each. Smith was ‘retained’ by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 12 crore, while Warner too was held back by SRH for Rs 12.5 crore.

Article courtesy – Times of  India of 29.03.18

Disgraced Australia skipper Steve Smith and senior batsman David Warner were on Wednesday banned from toplevel cricket for a year over a cheating scandal that has rocked the sport and dragged their side’s reputation through the mud. Both players have also been ejected from this year’s IPL, losing contracts worth nearly $2 million each.
A statement from Cricket Australia (CA) said Smith and Warner had been suspended from “all international and domestic cricket” while opening batsman Cameron Bancroft has been banned for nine months over the ball-tampering incident during the third Test in South Africa.

A Cricket Australia (CA) spokesman said the players could still play at club level in Australia or in other countries. The CA statement said Smith and Bancroft would not be considered for team leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the end of their suspensions. All three players will also be required to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket.
CA chief executive James Sutherland said: “I am satisfied that the sanctions in this case properly reflect a balance between the need to protect the integrity and reputation of the game and the need to maintain the possibility of redemption for the individuals involved, all of whom have learned difficult lessons through these events.” He said the national body would provide details of an independent review “into the conduct and culture of our Australian men’s team in due course”.
‘Warner will not captain Oz in future’
Declared the ‘plotter-in-chief’ in the balltampering scandal, David Warner will never be considered for captaincy after serving his oneyear ban, Cricket Australia has clarified. Following CA’s investigation into the infamous incident in Cape Town, it has come to light that Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft knew what they were getting into but it was Warner who developed the “plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball”. Smith still has a slim chance to captain Australia again but Warner will not be considered at all. “Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft will not be considered for team leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the conclusion of their respective suspensions from international and domestic cricket,” said CA. “Any consideration of future leadership would be conditional on acceptance by fans and the public, form and authority among the playing group. David Warner will not be considered for team leadership positions in the future,” it added.

Lehmann cleared after cover-up claims
Under-fire Australia coach Darren Lehmann had no knowledge of a ball-tampering plot by his two most senior players and allegations that he then led a cover-up are false, CA said. Former players have been calling for Lehmann’s head after television footage showed him sending a message out onto the field before Bancroft dropped the piece of sandpaper he was clandestinely using to rough up the ball down his trousers. But Sutherland said Lehmann was as surprised as the thousands of spectators in Cape Town when images showed Bancroft cheating.
“In Darren’s defence, I do want to clarify that matter,” Sutherland said on what Lehmann told 12th man Peter Handscomb via walky talky before he ran on the field to pass the coach’s message onto Bancroft. “He sent a message to say: ‘What the hell is going on?’ He didn’t use ‘hell’, he used another word. Darren wasn’t involved and didn’t know of the plan.” Sutherland also finally conceded “cheating” is an appropriate word to use to describe the scandal. AGENCIES
COACH WANTS FORGIVENESS
Johannesburg: Australia coach Darren Lehmann has apologised to the public and called for forgiveness for the “grave mistake”
made by Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. He promised a change in approach to the game from Australia, including boorish behaviour and playing contrary to the spirit of the game.
An emotional Lehmann said the banned players, were “not bad people” and called for them to be given a second chance.
“What happened on Saturday is not something that is acceptable from the Australian cricket team,” Lehmann told the Australian media. “There is a human side of this. These are young men and I hope people will give them a second chance. Their health is extremely important to us.”
CRICKET AUSTRALIA’S CHARGES IN FULL
STEVE SMITH
• Knew of a potential plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball
• Failed to take steps to seek to prevent the development and implementation of that plan
• Directed that evidence of attempted tampering be concealed on the field of play
• Sought to mislead match officials and others regarding Bancroft’s attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball
• Made misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent and participants of the plan
DAVID WARNER
• Developed a plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball
• Instructed a junior player to take steps to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper
• Provided advice to a junior player regarding how a ball could be artificially altered including demonstrating how it could be done
• Failed to take steps to seek to prevent the development and/or implementation of the plan
• Failed to report his knowledge of the plan at any time prior to or during the match
• Misled match officials through the concealment of his knowledge of and involvement in the plan
• Failed to voluntarily report his knowledge of the plan after the match
CAMERON BANCROFT
• Knew of the existence of, and was being party to, the plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper
• Carried out instructions to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball
• Sought to conceal evidence of his attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball
• Sought to mislead match officials and others regarding his attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball
• Made misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent, implementation and participants of the plan
WHAT WILL THE THREE MISS?
• The fourth Test against South Africa, and five ODIs and one Twenty20 on a mini tour of England from on 13 June.
• Under the Future Tours Programme, Australia could play India, SA and Lanka between Oct 2018 and Jan 2019.
• They will all be eligible to play in the 2019 World Cup from 30 May to 14 July.
• The next Ashes series is also scheduled for the summer of 2019.
• Smith and Bancroft will not be considered for team leadership positions until a minimum of 12 months after the conclusion of their respective suspensions from international and domestic cricket. Any consideration of future leadership would be conditional on acceptance by fans and the public, form and authority among the playing group. Warner will not be considered for team leadership in the future.

Article Courtesy – Times of India of 29.03.18

TD Paine who will lead Australia against South Africa at Johannesburg, the final test which starts today will become the 31^st wicket keeper to lead a team in tests in the annals of test cricket. The career figures of the thirty captain wicket keepers are tabulated below.  The list does not contain the players who have deputized as captain in the middle of the test or remainder of the test.

No	Player	Team	Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	C	W	BBI	Bowl Av	5	Ct	St
1	WL Murdoch	Aus	1	59	49	29.50	0	–	–	–	–	2	0
2	JM Blackham	Aus	8	154	74	22.00	0	–	–	–	–	11	4
3	EA Halliwell	SAF	3	84	41	14.00	0	–	–	–	–	4	0
4	M Bisset	SAF	1	56	35	56.00	0	–	–	–	–	1	1
5	PW Sherwell	SAF	13	427	115	23.72	1	–	–	–	–	20	16
6	RT Stanyforth	Eng	4	13	6*	2.60	0	–	–	–	–	7	2
7	RK Nunes	Win	3	87	37	14.50	0	–	–	–	–	1	0
8	HB Cameron	SAF	9	384	69*	27.42	0	–	–	–	–	14	5
9	FCM Alexander	Win	18	466	70	22.19	0	–	–	–	–	65	5
10	Imtiaz Ahmed	Pak	4	174	86	21.75	0	–	–	–	–	8	3
11	BN Jarman	Aus	1	14	10	7.00	0	–	–	–	–	3	0
12	Wasim Bari	Pak	6	45	17	6.42	0	0	–	–	0	8	0
13	DL Murray	Win	1	21	21	21.00	0	–	–	–	–	3	0
14	IDS Smith	NZl	1	3	3	3.00	0	–	–	–	–	6	0
15	AJ Stewart	Eng	12	781	164	37.19	1	–	–	–	–	47	1
16	A Flower	Zim	16	1232	156	49.28	3	–	–	–	–	56	0
17	LK Germon	NZl	12	382	55	21.22	0	–	–	–	–	27	2
18	Rashid Latif	Pak	6	140	54*	20.00	0	–	–	–	–	31	1
19	Moin Khan	Pak	13	438	70	27.37	0	–	–	–	–	24	4
20	AC Gilchrist	Aus	6	305	104	33.88	1	–	–	–	–	30	0
21	Khaled Mashud	Ban	12	385	51	20.26	0	–	–	–	–	22	1
22	MV Boucher	SAF	4	95	37	19.00	0	–	–	–	–	17	0
23	RD Jacobs	Win	2	150	91*	150.00	0	–	–	–	–	9	0
24	T Taibu	Zim	10	674	153	37.44	1	1	1/27	27.00	0	22	0
25	MS Dhoni	Ind	60	3454	224	40.63	5	0	–	–	0	187	24
26	Mushfiqur Rahim	Ban	28	2014	200	42.85	4	–	–	–	–	60	5
27	BRM Taylor	Zim	1	40	33	20.00	0	–	–	–	–	1	0
28	BB McCullum	NZl	1	21	20	10.50	0	–	–	–	–	6	0
29	D Ramdin	Win	13	472	57	22.47	0	–	–	–	–	38	5
30	Sarfraz Ahmed	Pak	2	119	68	29.75	0	–	–	–	–	8	1

TD Paine will also become the fifth Australian wicket keeper batsman to lead Australia in tests. Others are – WL Mudroch, JM  Blackham, BN Jarman  and AC Gichrist.

No	Player	Team	Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Av	C	W	BBI	Bowl Av	5	Ct	St
1	WL Murdoch	Aus	1	59	49	29.50	0	–	–	–	–	2	0
2	JM Blackham	Aus	8	154	74	22.00	0	–	–	–	–	11	4
3	BN Jarman	Aus	1	14	10	7.00	0	–	–	–	–	3	0
4	AC Gilchrist	Aus	6	305	104	33.88	1	–	–	–	–	30	0

 

In an emotional media briefing, Lehmann says his decision is voluntary.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann said on Thursday he would step down after this week’s Test match against South Africa, partly because of abuse his family received over the ball-tampering scandal that has rocked the sport.
In an emotional media briefing, Mr. Lehmann said his decision was voluntary.
“This will be my last Test as head coach of the Australian cricket team,” he said. “Saying goodbye to the players was the toughest thing I have ever had to do.”
Mr. Lehmann, who was not was due to leave the job until after the 2019 Ashes series in England, is quitting despite being cleared of any role in the ball-tampering scandal.

Article Courtesy – The  Hindu of 30.03.18

Former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith breaks down as he speaks to the media in Sydney after being sent home from South Africa following a ball tampering scandal.

Distraught former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith accepted full responsibility on Thursday for the ball-tampering scandal that has shaken the sport, breaking down in tears while denying it had ever happened before.
Cricket Australia have banned Smith and David Warner from all international and domestic cricket for a year, while opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was exiled for nine months over attempted cheating during the third Test in South Africa.
Smith, a golden boy compared to Donald Bradman for his batting exploits, was a broken man at an emotional press conference on his arrival back in Sydney from Johannesburg.
“I take full responsibility, I made a serious error of judgment and I understand the consequences. It was a failure of leadership,” he said, choking back tears.
“It was a failure of leadership, of my leadership, I’ll do anything I can to make up for my mistake and the damage it has caused,” he added, breaking down for the first time. If any good can come of this, as an example to others, I can be a force for change. I know I’ll regret this for the rest of my life, I’m absolutely gutted,” he said
“I hope in time I can earn back respect and forgiveness. I’ve been so privileged and honoured to represent my country, and captain the Australian cricket team. Cricket is the greatest game in the world. It’s been my life and I hope it can be again. I’m sorry and I’m absolutely devastated.”
Smith said, to his knowledge, it was the first time it had happened and he was not about to offload the blame onto Warner.
“I don’t blame anyone,” he said. “I’m the captain of the Australian cricket team, it happened on my watch and I take responsibility for what happened in Cape Town last Saturday.”
Impact on parents
The final question he was able to field before he broke down for the last time and was ushered out of the room with his father Peter was about what he would tell cricket-loving children.
“Anytime you are thinking of making a questionable decision, think about who you are affecting, you’re affecting your parents,” he said.
“To see the way my old man’s been,” he sobbed.
“(To see) My mum it hurts. I can’t remember what I was saying. I just want to say sorry for the pain I have caused to the Australian public. I am truly sorry,” he concluded fighting back sobs.
Smith was jeered as he made his way through Johannesburg airport on Wednesday surrounded by police and media with concerns over his mental state in the current rabid climate and coach Darren Lehmann calling for all three men to be “given a second chance”.
Former great Shane Warne offered the trio an olive branch despite days of a harsh and judgmental Australian public baying for blood.“What the public wants to see is change. They want to see you be a better person,” he wrote in a column for the Sydney Daily Telegraph. “They’ll support you if they see that, and they’ll forgive you.

Article Courtesy – The Hindu of 30.03.18

Cameron Bancroft and SPD Smith at the Press Conference

Only Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were involved in ball-tampering during Australia’s third test match against South Africa, according to James Sutherland, CA Chief Executive.
The embattled trio of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will be sent home in disgrace on Wednesday as Cricket Australia came down heavily on their errant captain, his deputy and young opener for orchestrating a ball-tampering conspiracy against South Africa, sullying the image of a cricket-loving nation.
However, chief coach Darren Lehmann has been given a clean chit for the time being, as Cricket Australia concluded its preliminary investigations on Tuesday.
Tim Paine will captain Australia in the final Test match with reinforcements in middle-order batsman Glenn Maxwell along with openers Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw scheduled to arrive on Wednesday.
“All three players (Smith, Warner, Bancroft) that have been reported will leave tomorrow [Wednesday]. Renshaw, Maxwell and Burns will arrive in South Africa in the next 24 hours,” CA chief executive James Sutherland told a packed media conference here this evening.
“Time Paine has been officially appointed the captain of the Test team,” he added.
Sutherland informed that apart from the trio, no other player in the group had any prior knowledge about the wrongdoing. “Contrary to inaccurate reports, Darren has not resigned. He had no prior knowledge,” confirmed Sutherland.
Questioned whether Lehmann offered to resign, Sutherland replied: “As far as I am aware no he has not, at least not to me.”
“No other players or support staff had prior knowledge and this includes coach Darren Lehmann who had no prior knowledge. He will continue to coach the national team under his current contract,” said the former first-class player.
He made it clear that tough sanctions awaited the trio after the full inquiry is complete.
“We are contemplating significant sanctions in each case of the three players. These sanctions will reflect the gravity of what occurred and the damage it has done Australian cricket. Urgency must be balanced with due process. We have conducted an investigation, we have made reports and sanctions will be issued tomorrow. They will be significant. They will reflect the gravity of the situation,” he added.
Sutherland said that he was angry but maintained that it was “an isolated incident of significant concern.”
“I share the disappointment of the fans. We have had a board meeting today, Cricket Australia share these same feelings. I want to apologise to all Australians that this happened, particularly to all the kids that love cricket and idolise the players.”
He said that he is aware of the impact of the damage done by the trio and corrective measures will be taken. “I would not underestimate the damage this does to the game. What we are about as an organisation is cricket. If this has damaged the ability of cricket then it’s a sorry state. We must do everything we can to repair it.”

ICC has handed out punishment as provided by the rules, Cricket Australia may punish them severely but calls for a life ban are beyond the pale
The Australian cricket team’s leadership group found itself in trouble in South Africa after team captain Steve Smith admitted that the group had conspired to tamper with the ball to gain an unfair advantage in the match. This was after Cameron Bancroft had been caught tampering with the ball on camera. ICC has punished Smith and Bancroft as per rules and Cricket Australia has also come under pressure with Australian PM Turnbull calling the incident a shocking disappointment. Opinions have been divided on the suitable punishment for Steve Smith and others. Some have even called for a life ban. In this Business Standard Special, the author takes a look at the controversy and measures up these calls for punishment against logic and fairness.
Steven Smith, Australia’s Cricket captain who presided over the most demonstrably pre-meditated act of cheating on a Cricket field will not play in his team’s next Test match. He will likely be stood down from his leadership position longer than that. He would be ill-advised to try and see out a contract at the Rajasthan Royals and he should go stand in a corner, facing the wall, for the foreseeable short-term future.
Suitable punishments for Smith have been discussed with life ban having been suggested too. The outrage, especially in social media circles, has reached such a fever pitch that those baying for blood will continue to bleed till they have been heard.
The most absurd suggestion has compared the actions of Cameron Bancroft, Smith and David Warner, and anyone else in the leadership group, to match-fixing. If anything, this is the opposite of that, the worst thing a cricketer can possibly do. Match-fixers undermine the credibility of a game, underperform for a fee, while this Australian team, was doing the opposite.
Make no mistake, Bancroft and friends were trying to gain an unfair advantage over South Africa, to try and win. You can only fix a match, or a performance, to underperform.
Here is a team trying to take an unfair advantage over the opposition. This is more akin to a sportsperson doping than one trying to make a big buck by selling his game out. There is no excusing Bancroft and friends, but comparisons to match-fixing, and suggestions of lifetime bans are ridiculous.
Acting as swiftly as it possibly can, the International Cricket Council brought charges, heard the case and delivered their verdict: Smith was gone for a game, Bancroft fined heavily and put on notice.
The ICC acted precisely as their Code of Conduct allowed and handed out punishments in proportion to the breaches committed.
But, this was never about ball tampering alone. As has been made clear, there is almost no team that does not try to gain the greatest advantage over the condition of a ball, but the manner in which this Australian team blatantly flouted the laws, challenged the umpires when caught and then tried to jettison the evidence, left the rest of the Cricket world with little choice.
As for the charges brought, the ICC has done its bit and doled out justice as per its parameters. Cricket Australia is yet to move, but there is every indication that they will go above and beyond what the ICC have sanctioned.
Chances are that Smith’s demotion will not be a temporary thing, and David Warner will finally get what was always coming to him, but the game must go on and Australia cannot allow themselves to be defined by a group of people who made bad choices in tough times. Suggestion to ban Smith for life, however, may be beyond the pale.
Smith is the most watchable batsman in the world today, potentially Australia’s best since Don Bradman, and he does not deserve to be remembered as the man who sunk Australian cricket. Warner, on the other hand, is not in the same mould and some may not consider him worthy of a position in any “leadership-group” but there is no denying that he can still enrich the game with his contribution as a foot-soldier.
If Australia lost Smith and Warner, and a few more to boot, would the team still be Australia when it played cricket again?
Is this the Australian team that the rest of the cricket world wants to beat, scarred as they are by Aussie dominance over decades? The truth is that every team in the world is waiting for a chance to peg Australia back. Every batsman is sick of the constant sledging they face when Australia is on the field. Every bowler is bored of the suggestion that he got lucky picking up three wickets. Every umpire is staggered by the suggestion that Australia’s cricketers only recognise them when they give decisions against the opponents. And every journalist who has covered Australian cricket can sense that this is a new and perhaps desperate low.
The Australian Prime Minister has weighed in, former captains have fired salvoes and future coaching prospects have kept the fight clean, but there is a fight nevertheless.
At the end of the day, however, there are two separate issues that have to be dealt with. The first is the ICC sanction — Smith suspended, Bancroft fined — and the second is what Cricket Australia will do to regain the faith of their public. The ICC is good at going by the book, even if these specific chapters are deeply flawed.
For the moment, with all evidence in hand, there is no reason to believe that Smith should be banned for an extended period, or that Warner should be disallowed from captaining Sunrisers Hyderabad or playing for them.
Each has paid the price in the place that hurts them most. They deserve this, and the harshest punishment the laws on hand can provide. But, asking for anything more, is vengeance, something that should have no place in cricket.

Anand Vasu is a freelance journalist who has followed Indian cricket for two decades. He tweets as @anandvasu