Australian captain Steven Smith and Vice-Captain David Warner have stepped down from the leadership roles as confirmed by the Australian Cricket Board, after Steven Smith and Cameron Bancroft admitted to tamper the ball in the ongoing Test.
Cricket Buzz: Cricket Australia appointed Tim paine to act as captain for the ongoing Test.
I had discussions with the match officials, I’ve been charged with attempting to change the condition of the ball. We had a discussion during the break and I saw an opportunity to use some tape, get some granules from the rough patches on the wickets and change the condition,” Bancroft told reporters in Cape Town.
“It didn’t work, and the umpires obviously didn’t change the ball, but I guess once I was cited on the screens I panicked quite a lot and that resulted in me shoving it down my trousers,” the rookie opener further added.
Smith admitted that it was a deliberate plan from the “leadership group” of the side.
“The leadership group knew about it. We spoke about it at lunch. I am not proud of what’s happened. It’s not within the spirit of the game. My integrity, the team’s integrity and the leadership group’s integrity has come into question. It wont happen again,” Smith said.
“It was the leadership group’s idea. Poor choice and we deeply regret our actions. The coaches weren’t involved. It was purely the leadership group who came up with this. This is the first time it has happened under my leadership. We saw this game as such as an important game. We’ve seen the ball reversing through this series and this ball didn’t seem like it was going to go. It’s such poor actions. Deeply regrettable and wont happen again. I can promise you. I can promise you this is the first time it has happened,” he explained.
The Australian captain further went on to say that he is embarrassed with the way things unfolded. Nonetheless, he made it clear that he would not consider stepping down as a captain.
“I am embarrassed. I know the boys in the shed are embarrassed as well. Being the leader I am incredibly sorry. If we weren’t caught, I would still regret it,” Smith quoted
“I wont consider stepping down [from captaincy]. I still think I am the right person for the job. Today was a big mistake on my part and on the leadership group as well. I have to take control of the ship. This is something I am not proud of. It’s something I hope I can learn from and come back from. I am embarrassed. It is a big error in judgement,” he elaborated.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has weighed in on the Australian cricket ball tampering controversy on Sunday afternoon, slamming the team for cheating.