Disgraced Smith, Warner, Bancroft sent home in ‘bad day’ for Aussie cricket

Australia’s cricket captain Steve Smith, vice captain David Warner and player Cameron Bancroft have been sent home from South Africa and face “significant sanctions” over the ball-tampering scandal, the CEO of Cricket Australia said.

Cricket boss James Sutherland was announcing the initial findings of an ongoing investigation into the trio’s behaviour on Saturday in South Africa, which according to reports Sutherland refused to define as cheating. The nature of the sanctions is likely to be announced later today Australian time.

“I would like to apologise to all Australians that these events have taken place, particularly to all the kids who love cricket,” Sutherland said. “I am angry and disappointed. It’s not a good day for Australian cricket.”

Read more: It’s just not cricket: Disgraceful behaviour by Australian cricket team

The Australian team’s coach Darren Lehman will remain in South Africa, Sutherland said, with the probe having found he had no knowledge of the decision by the trio for Bancroft to use yellow tape to change the condition of the ball. Lehman’s role will, however, be considered as part of an upcoming review announced by Sutherland into the culture of the Aussie cricket team.

“The key finding is that prior knowledge of the ball tampering incident was limited to three players: captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft,” Sutherland said. “No other players or support staff had prior knowledge and this includes Darren Lehmann, who despite inaccurate media reports, has not resigned from his position.”

Sutherland told a press conference in South Africa that Smith was “distraught” over the scandal, which has sullied Australia’s standing in the sporting world.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that despite being repeatedly pressed by reporters at the conference, Sutherland declined to characterise the trio’s actions to alter the ball as cheating, saying merely that it was not within the laws or the spirit of the game.

Reports said that the sanctions against the players for breaching article 2.3.5 of Cricket Australia’s code of conduct  – the article deals with conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game or brings the game into disrepute – could include long bans from international cricket. Smith and Warner are on multi-million-dollar player contracts and have numerous commercial sponsorship deals with brands including Channel 9, Toyota, New Balance and Weet-Bix. 

Wicketkeeper Tim Paine has been appointed as caretaker captain of the team, while Matthew Renshaw, Glen Maxwell and Joe Burns will replace the players for the remainder of the third test against South Africa.

Australian cricket fans have been shocked by the revelation on Sunday that the Aussie team’s two leaders had been involved in deliberately breaking the rules of the game, and even Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said  he was “shocked and bitterly disappointed” by the team’s actions.

“It seemed completely beyond belief that the Australian cricket team had been involved in cheating. After all, our cricketers are role models and cricket is synonymous with fair play. How can our team by engaged in cheating like this? It beggars belief. There’s a lot of disappointment,” Turnbull said, echoing the thoughts of many Australians.

Smith said in a press conference after Bancroft was caught on cameras tampering with the ball that their actions were a “big mistake” but said at the time that he would not stand down.

“My integrity, the team’s integrity, the leadership group’s integrity has come into question and rightfully so,” Smith said at the time. “It’s such poor actions and deeply regrettable and certainly won’t happen again under my leadership I can promise you.”

Do you consider ball tampering to be cheating? What sanctions should the players face? 

CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to reflect that David Warner’s sponsorship deal with Nestle Milo ended at the end of 2017.