Ball-tampering: Steve Smith suspended for a Test, Cameron Bancroft handed 3 demerit pts [Update#677]

[Mamoon]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steve Smith,his Team & ALL the management will have to accept that whatever happens in their careers they will all be known for trying to CHEAT the game ... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAvAUS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAvAUS</a></p>— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/977598867729473536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It is incredible how people are quick to forget the actions of their own teams. Hypocrisy truly comes to the fore in times like these.

 

[BreadPakoda]

The leader part in the word leadership is quite interesting

Steve Smith refused to disclose what comprises the leadership group.

 

[Last Monetarist]

It is incredible how people are quick to forget the actions of their own teams. Hypocrisy truly comes to the fore in times like these.

Nah, he's just trolling them.

 

[BreadPakoda]

It is incredible how people are quick to forget the actions of their own teams. Hypocrisy truly comes to the fore in times like these.

That's true. Was Vaughan caught in any such controversy though?

 

[OoparCut]

Faf was first caught in 2013, two years into his Test career and was not one of the senior players. He is as much of a cheat as Smith is, and he was caught twice. If he was allowed to go scot-free, why should Smith receive excessive punishment?

2 wrongs don't make a right. Faf and his zipper was pathetic and ought to have been punished strongly.

The video evidence in Australia's case is so strong that the ICC, as inconsistent and wimpy as they are, they will be forced to "take action".

 

[OoparCut]

Could not be more blatant than that. And I have no hesitation in saying that if it was Pakistan or even India they would be absolutely crucified for this. Gotta make an example of the Aussies, and in particular their captain. There's no way that this could have happened without the captain/coach knowing.

This also makes me question the brainfade episode too in that series between the teams. This is blatant cheating and more importantly well organized cheating.

Brainfade was a coverup. Nobody has been able to explain how Indian team was able to warn the umpires before the brainfade happened. They made the same excuses about "first time" and a rookie player - handscomb in that case - taking the fall.

 

[Mamoon]

2 wrongs don't make a right. Faf and his zipper was pathetic and ought to have been punished strongly.

The video evidence in Australia's case is so strong that the ICC, as inconsistent and wimpy as they are, they will be forced to "take action".

Two wrongs don't make a right, but dishing out different punishments for the same offense is not right either.

 

[Mamoon]

Nah, he's just trolling them.

True, but he is looking quite stupid.

 

[IndianFan2018]

It's a poor reflection on everyone in that dressing room. If we weren't caught, I'd still feel bad about it.”

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/650423

Dumb statement from Bradman, if your not caught how will every could have known

 

[Mamoon]

That's true. Was Vaughan caught in any such controversy though?

To be fair, now that I recall it, Vaughan was critical of Anderson (?) for tampering with the ball in South Africa in 2010/2011. Nonetheless, everyone attacking Australia right now have conveniently ignored the fact that all teams are guilty of this.

 

[pillionrider]

Look at these guys )

Feel sorry for Bancroft's career though. Think he's a very good player and has a fantastic attitude.

Bancroft actually looks shattered, which is expected, given his young career. But how can Smith sit there and expect anyone to not want to throw up when he says "I promise you."

There are many who don't mind sledging or the Aussie aggression, but what's intolerable is when they try to have the best of both worlds and act like they have any sort of integrity vis-a-vis the game.

What we need is a troll journalist for every team conference. I was really hoping someone would ask him, "So would you call this a brain fade by the leadership group."

And what's with this "leadership group" buzzword

 

[Last Monetarist]

True, but he is looking quite stupid.

One rarely looks bright on twitter. Vaughan is a professional baiter of Australians in the media, doubt there's any malice involved.

 

[OoparCut]

Two wrongs don't make a right, but dishing out different punishments for the same offense is not right either.

Rules are always evolving. Australian players used to routinely use racial abuses in the 70s and 80s against sub-continental players. Darren Lehmann got caught on a stump-mic and was banned for 5 games in the 2000s. Today, no player will dare say such things. Times change, so do rules, and perceptions.

And to repeat - the video evidence here has cornered the Australian team, captain, coach and also the ICC. They have no choice but to come down hard on this. Else they risk more bad PR. And you are smart enough to know how bureaucratic organizations like these will react in situations like this.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Two wrongs don't make a right, but dishing out different punishments for the same offense is not right either.

lol. You're going on as if you've been caught.

This is 2018, ball tampering isnt the norm as it was in the 80's and 90's.

The captain , senior players all planned this.

Lengthy bans are needed to stop this from happening again.

 

[OoparCut]

Bancroft actually looks shattered, which is expected, given his young career. But how can Smith sit there and expect anyone to not want to throw up when he says "I promise you."

There are many who don't mind sledging or the Aussie aggression, but what's intolerable is when they try to have the best of both worlds and act like they have any sort of integrity vis-a-vis the game.

What we need is a troll journalist for every team conference. I was really hoping someone would ask him, "So would you call this a brain fade by the leadership group."

And what's with this "leadership group" buzzword

Any talk of integrity reminds me of Ricky Ponting's hypocrisy. Claiming wrong catches, and raising the fingers at the umpires.

 

[BreadPakoda]

To be fair, now that I recall it, Vaughan was critical of Anderson (?) for tampering with the ball in South Africa in 2010/2011. Nonetheless, everyone attacking Australia right now have conveniently ignored the fact that all teams are guilty of this.

It was indeed Anderson.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jan/06/england-vaughan-south-africa-tampering

 

[shane]

To be fair, now that I recall it, Vaughan was critical of Anderson (?) for tampering with the ball in South Africa in 2010/2011. Nonetheless, everyone attacking Australia right now have conveniently ignored the fact that all teams are guilty of this.

Looking through the archives on this forum, there are probably lots of threads criticising Du Plessis for ball-tampering and Afridi for ball-eating. Nobody has forgotten them; they are just not that relevant to this particular incident.

 

[Markhor]

Just listened to Nasser Hussain's comments and he made the point about how Pakistan at The Oval in 2006 were docked 5 penalty runs by Darrell Hair with no evidence of ball tampering, and not a single TV camera picking it up, whereas here the umpire didn't even dock any runs despite definitive TV footage and then an attempt to lie about it.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Just listened to Nasser Hussain's comments and he made the point about how Pakistan at The Oval in 2006 were docked 5 penalty runs by Darrell Hair with no evidence of ball tampering, and not a single TV camera picking it up, whereas here the umpire didn't even dock any runs despite definitive TV footage and then an attempt to lie about it.

It is indeed interesting.

I think the opposite mentalities of the umpires are seen in these two incidents

Hair was considered anti brown teams, racist by some. He did what he did without any consideration of real evidence.

Here we have umpires who were worried about any backlash if they gave away 5 runs, basically condemning the team to cheating without them seeing the video themselves. The match referee should have intervened and instructed the on field umpires to award the runs as it's clear as day what went on.

 

[shane]

Just listened to Nasser Hussain's comments and he made the point about how Pakistan at The Oval in 2006 were docked 5 penalty runs by Darrell Hair with no evidence of ball tampering, and not a single TV camera picking it up, whereas here the umpire didn't even dock any runs despite definitive TV footage and then an attempt to lie about it.

That was a racist man doing his racist thing. But it also set a precedent for mayhem resulting from accusing teams of ball-tampering. The umpires in this match may well have acted the way they did as a direct result of what happened following the Pakistan incident.

 

[OoparCut]

It is indeed interesting.

I think the opposite mentalities of the umpires are seen in these two incidents

Hair was considered anti brown teams, racist by some. He did what he did without any consideration of real evidence.

Here we have umpires who were worried about any backlash if they gave away 5 runs, basically condemning the team to cheating without them seeing the video themselves. The match referee should have intervened and instructed the on field umpires to award the runs as it's clear as day what went on.

Umpire and Match Referee have to be publicly sanctioned by the ICC. There is no other way for it to maintain credibility.

Apparently the fig leaf excuse here is that the condition of the ball "didn't change" in spite of the attempt. Sorry, I don't buy that. You can see clear discoloration on the ball matching the size and shape of the yellow "tape". Plain and simple, Umpires and Referee chose to give Australia a longer rope than the rules permit.

 

[kingusama92]

Faf did the same thing vs AUS in 2016. Both of these teams are filled with cheats.

100% fine and no ban is what he got.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Umpire and Match Referee have to be publicly sanctioned by the ICC. There is no other way for it to maintain credibility.

Apparently the fig leaf excuse here is that the condition of the ball "didn't change" in spite of the attempt. Sorry, I don't buy that. You can see clear discoloration on the ball matching the size and shape of the yellow "tape". Plain and simple, Umpires and Referee chose to give Australia a longer rope than the rules permit.

Well the law clearly says.

"(b) It is unfair for anyone to rub the ball on the ground for any reason, interfere with any of the seams or the surface of the ball, use any implement, or take any other action whatsoever which is likely to alter the condition of the ball, except as permitted in (a) above"

It doesnt matter if the condition of the ball changed(as it surely did today) but the mere attempt to use an implement which is likely to alter the condition, which was the case today.

I agree the umpires and referee should be questioned here too.

 

[Hamad_H]

Any form of ball tampering is wrong but the worst type is probably using an external object because it is planned and more than Smith and Bancroft knew about it. With a mint or nails or even teeth, some may argue it is a spur of moment thing that shouldn't really be on your mind and you deserve to be punished but sandpaper is just shocking.

ICC need to make an example of them because players are now so confident that they won't get caught, they'll bring an external object with them to purposely ball tamper.

 

[dildilpak]

The worst thing is that the ICC rules say that for ball tempering all you can get a ban of 1 match- this is so inadequate in blatant cheating cases like these. Can they take action against Smith and his ‘leadership’ buddies (clearly he is shielding Warner here) under any other section? Also the match referree and the umpires who clearly did nothing in face of evidence. Anyhow it will be interesting to see how Cricket Australia will respond to this and whether they ask Smith to step down as captain (which they should!)

 

[JaDed]

From Cricket Australia

Bancroft: I want to be here because I'm accountable for my actions. I've got to live with the consequences and the damage to my reputation #SAvAUS


Smith: It's a poor reflection on everyone in that dressing room. If we weren't caught, I'd still feel bad about it #SAvAUS


Smith says he's sorry for what has unfolded on day three #SAvAUS


"It won't happen ever again under my leadership" - Steve Smith #SAvAUS


Smith says it's the first time something like has happened under his leadership #SAvAUS


Smith: "The coaches weren't involved" #SAvAUS


Smith: "We spoke about it and thought it was a possible way to get an advantage." #SAvAUS


Steve Smith: 'The leadership group knew about it. I'm not proud of it." #SAvAUS


Bancroft: "Once I was sighted on the big screens I panicked quite a lot."

Confirms it was yellow tape used #SAvAUS

Cameron Bancroft: "We just had discussions with the match officials. I've been charged with attempting to change the condition of the ball" #SAvAUS

This should be the headline of the thread Smith knew about it,and admitted to it!

 

[Sherlock]

It's weird...why didn't the umpires dock Australia 5-penalty points?

They clearly had help from the 3rd/4th umpires and got the message something was up with Bancroft and condition of the ball. Yet they didn't do anything?

 

[Sherlock]

This should be the headline of the thread Smith knew about it,and admitted to it!

I can't believe he did that. Absolutely baffling. In-fact what was more baffling was that he didn't mention the coach. I'm sorry but I feel he had a major hand in this too. The video is damning indictment of that.

 

[Rishta Aunty]

Who else is feeling really sorry for Bancroft? It seems pretty obvious that he is being used as a scapegoat in this whole saga, just like Handscomb was in the brainfade episode. He looked absolutely shattered out there, but obviously couldn't say that as a junior member, he was probably pressured into this against his will.

Smith is just a piece of work. For all those claiming people have tampered the ball. Yeah sure that has happened including Faf, though I'd still argue that there was some plausible deniability about this mint saga atleast. But the Smith and Lehmann combo have shown up to being one of the most vile groups that have constantly looked for ways to gain and unfair advantage. I will really want to question a lot of Mitchell Starc's wickets against the tail where he suddenly seems to be able to reverse swing the old ball at will. Add to that other unsavoury episodes and it's very hard to respect this current Australian team. I just wish we could show them up atleast in our next tour to Australia.

 

[JaDed]

I can't believe he did that. Absolutely baffling. In-fact what was more baffling was that he didn't mention the coach. I'm sorry but I feel he had a major hand in this too. The video is damning indictment of that.

With Lehman's history I defn expect that he was involved.

 

[James]

I respect Smith for admitting it.

 

[JaDed]

I respect Smith for admitting it.

And What do you think should be the punishment?

 

[GLORY OF '92]

I respect Smith for admitting it.

Didn't have a choice I think.

 

[TM Riddle]

Question: If they ban Smith from International cricket, would the ban also extend to IPL games? He's our Captain and only hope.

 

[Protea Fan]

Question: If they ban Smith from International cricket, would the ban also extend to IPL games? He's our Captain and only hope.

Its a level 2 offence,might get 4 demerit point so maximum one test ban plus full match fee thats all i guess

Ball tapering is not a violent act according to icc but should have been treat in other way imo

 

[Robert]

Should have made Khawaja do it given the way he is batting.

)

The entire England top six should get the job.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sad times for cricket <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAvAUS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SAvAUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/CjfLBuHZOJ">pic.twitter.com/CjfLBuHZOJ</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/977610492876345344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Protea Fan]

Damn after watching first test i thought these ausis bolwers are soo skilful to reverse the ball so early

By bad

 

[IndianFan2018]

Didn't have a choice I think.

Modern Bradman's men got caught red handedly ...

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

Honestly I reckon the reason smith has come out and admitted it is because this isn’t the first time they have done it under his watch. Also his suggest that Leahman didn’t know is laughable

They want to control the fallout that much is obvious

 

[BreadPakoda]

Didn't have a choice I think.

He did. Could have blamed Bancroft.

Who was the captain when Faf used the zipper? Did he accept any responsibility?

 

[Aman]

Damn after watching first test i thought these ausis bolwers are soo skilful to reverse the ball so early

By bad

Aus were able to get the ball to reverse in NZ when it never does )

That's how they were able to roll us over on our phattas after day 1.

 

[Aman]

Didn't have a choice I think.

Just want to know if it really was paper or if they're lying abotu it to make themselves look better.

Either way it is embarrassing for CA because this was a directive right from the leadership team. Other cases there hasn't been proof of it. The team resulted to cheating to get back into the game.

This would have been a million times worse if it had worked and they had SA in trouble.

 

[reversehook]

All i have gathered is that they cheated, next to no remorse, more p^ssed about being caught, they sound assured that next to nothing will come out of it. Obviously this was a heavily planned out event. Bancroft looks a bit more red in the face, but that's prob coz he is new to the cheating business. He reminds me of amir, when amir was asked to bowl no balls, he went to town with his no balls, and asif was the pro at it. Similarly here, Smith is playing with words implying this is not a big deal and we will move on and so should everyone else, while bancroft is a bit worried.

And as a conclusion, they should BANCROFT him, as he should work a bit more on his cheating croft, and till then they should keep him on a ban... no puns intended.... smith should work out a better cheating strategy. This would make the ball biting Afridi cringe too...

 

[Aman]

I respect Smith for admitting it.

Yeah, gotta respect him for defending his young player. But he's made Australian cricket look a lot worse by admitting the leadership team orchestrated it all.

 

[R3verse Swing]

Cameraman deserves a raise!

 

[big_gamer007]

I respect Smith for admitting it.

The video evidence was too damning he didn’t have any other choice.. Infact he lied blatantly saying Lehman doesn’t know when it’s on video he used walkie talkie to get the 12th man to tell Bancroft he’s been caught..

So no he deserves no respect at all and should Be treated like any other player/captain who tried to gain an unfair advantage..

 

[R3verse Swing]

Nothing to prove here. It is a fact that they tampered with the ball using bottle caps and other objects. It is extremely naive to think that just because they were not caught in the act means that they did not use underhand tactics.

Since reverse-swing became mainstream, all teams have been guilty of tampering. However, it is harder to get away with it now because of technology.

Nonetheless, they did admit to ball-tampering.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...rowing-light-on-a-touchy-subject-1434755.html

In 2000, Waqar became the first player ever to be fined for tampering.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/88784.html

The English and the rest did not know how to tamper with the ball to make it reverse back in the 80's and 90's, which is why they routinely accused Pakistani bowlers of cheating. The most famous example was in the summer of 1992 when Wasim and Waqar were too hot to handle for them.

However, now that all teams have learned how to do it, the players have toned down in terms of accusations. All teams accept the fact that these things happen. Faf was caught twice, once under Smith and once under Amla. How often is he labeled a cheat?

If the umpire catches, you are in trouble. If not, you get on with it. That is how it works nowadays.

Nonetheless, you still have to be a good bowler to make use of reverse-swing. It does not hamper your legacy.

The overreaction in this thread is because of Australia's reputation as the bad boy of cricket. Why should Smith face harsh punishment when other captains have gotten away with less? Why hasn't a repeat offender like Faf received a lengthy ban? Why weren't his captains, Smith and Amla, stripped of captaincy?

Smith and Bancroft should be and will be punished. However, it should be in line with the punishments that the previous offenders have received. Ball-tampering is a reality and the ICC cannot do anything to eradicate it. You either get away with it, or you are unlucky enough to get caught.

Have a day off will ya?

There have been many individuals over the years that have been found guilty of ball tampering, which technically is a minor offence, but this is the first occasion that the whole team planned the event, including the team captain and senior management.

Post your anti-Pakistani vitriol somewhere else.

 

[Aman]

Have a day off will ya?

There have been many individuals over the years that have been found guilty of ball tampering, which technically is a minor offence, but this is the first occasion that the whole team planned the event, including the team captain and senior management.

Post your anti-Pakistani vitriol somewhere else.

This.

It's one thing for a player to do it, entirely another for there to be actual proof of it being planned by the team (captain, leadership team and coach included) to get an advantage. It's damning to the entire team's integrity.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WHAT THE ........ HAVE I JUST WOKEN UP TO. Please tell me this is a bad dream.</p>— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) <a href="https://twitter.com/MClarke23/status/977609413610545152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[kingusama92]

Have a day off will ya?

There have been many individuals over the years that have been found guilty of ball tampering, which technically is a minor offence, but this is the first occasion that the whole team planned the event, including the team captain and senior management.

Post your anti-Pakistani vitriol somewhere else.

Technically, Faf was captain when he tampered.

 

[shoaib]

It would be interesting to see how the Aussie cricket board respond. Surely the 'leadership group' has bought shame and dishonour on the country.

The whole leadership group should be banned for life.

 

[shokz1408]

Look at these guys )

Feel sorry for Bancroft's career though. Think he's a very good player and has a fantastic attitude.

I feel sorry for them, it looks like a conference after they've spot fixed. They tried to win the game, the ball wasn't doing anything they tampered with it slightly. I know rules are rules, but personally I don't see minor tampering with the ball a big deal. I'm sure players from accross the countries try and tamper with the ball in their own not so obvious ways, problem was it looked blatant as the camera showed him putting it down his trousers. But yeah I feel sorry for him, must have felt the ground go below him when he found out it was caught on camera.

 

[R3verse Swing]

Technically, Faf was captain when he tampered.

So was Imran Khan, and Michael Atherton, but this incident is different in that senior management of Australia are complicit too - what makes it worse is Steve Smith admits to the premeditated plan from top to bottom.

I see lengthy bans, or resignations, perhaps both.

 

[thelandofthebravepeople]

And compare this with Afridi.

Afridi got a ********* in the middle of the match and tried to eat the ball. One person, bad judgement, ********* etc. etc.

This is pre planned - whole team and coaching stuff is involved. 100 times worse.

 

[R3verse Swing]

I feel sorry for them, it looks like a conference after they've spot fixed. They tried to win the game, the ball wasn't doing anything they tampered with it slightly. I know rules are rules, but personally I don't see minor tampering with the ball a big deal. I'm sure players from accross the countries try and tamper with the ball in their own not so obvious ways, problem was it looked blatant as the camera showed him putting it down his trousers. But yeah I feel sorry for him, must have felt the ground go below him when he found out it was caught on camera.

Ball tampering is not the issue here per se, it's the premeditated plan of Australia's senior management team. Had Smith not admitted to this fact, then this episode would be long the side of Faf tampering with the ball.

The look on Lehman's face says it all. Sending the water boy to pass on a message on the field that - *you've been caught so hide the evidence* - was just taking the biscuit.

 

[Mamoon]

Have a day off will ya?

There have been many individuals over the years that have been found guilty of ball tampering, which technically is a minor offence, but this is the first occasion that the whole team planned the event, including the team captain and senior management.

Post your anti-Pakistani vitriol somewhere else.

Players do not do it on impulse. It is a systematic decision, and all teams have designated players who do the business. It is always planned and the management have knowledge of it.

When du Plessis did it in 2013 and 2014, Smith and Amla were obviously aware of it. Similarly, he was the captain when he tampered in 2016.

If Smith deserves a 12 month ban for this, du Plessis - a three time offender - should be banned for 5 years.

 

[Aman]

Players do not do it on impulse. It is a systematic decision, and all teams have designated players who do the business. It is always planned and the management have knowledge of it.

When du Plessis did it in 2013 and 2014, Smith and Amla were obviously aware of it. Similarly, he was the captain when he tampered in 2016.

If Smith deserves a 12 month ban for this, du Plessis - a three time offender - should be banned for 5 years.

The difference is there was never proof of this.

Smith admitted this was a leadership decision.

 

[R3verse Swing]

Players do not do it on impulse. It is a systematic decision, and all teams have designated players who do the business. It is always planned and the management have knowledge of it.

When du Plessis did it in 2013 and 2014, Smith and Amla were obviously aware of it. Similarly, he was the captain when he tampered in 2016.

If Smith deserves a 12 month ban for this, du Plessis - a three time offender - should be banned for 5 years.

You have no evidence that every ball tampering incident is always planned and senior management have knowledge. You can speculate, but you have no evidence.

Past episodes do indeed prove players on the field are complicit, but senior management? This is the first case of it - thanks to Smith's admission.

Forget bans, expect resignations.

 

[Mamoon]

lol. You're going on as if you've been caught.

This is 2018, ball tampering isnt the norm as it was in the 80's and 90's.

The captain , senior players all planned this.

Lengthy bans are needed to stop this from happening again.

As I said, it is always a systematic decision. A player does not randomly decide to play with the ball. The captains are aware. Secondly, it is a myth that it does not happen anymore.

Almost every year, we have a couple of incidents of players getting caught. It does not mean that they get caught every time they do it. They obviously get away with it as well.

You want lengthy bans? Great. How about starting with du Plessis, not only is he a serial ball-tamperer, he is also pretty crap at doing it discreetly, which is why he was caught three times. Make an example out of him by handing him a 5 year ban.

 

[Mamoon]

The difference is there was never proof of this.

Smith admitted this was a leadership decision.

You have no evidence that every ball tampering incident is always planned and senior management have knowledge. You can speculate, but you have no evidence.

Past episodes do indeed prove players on the field are complicit, but senior management? This is the first case of it - thanks to Smith's admission.

Forget bans, expect resignations.

I agree that it is a technically that can potentially spell trouble for Smith. He did not have to reveal that the management were complicit in it. It happens in other teams as well but they do not talk about it.

 

[Syed1]

Goes to show what advantage the color of the skin provides. Heck we were docked five runs and there wasn't any evidence of ball tampering and here they have been caught on camera and the umps are like nothing to see here gents lets all move on. Smith is like oops sorry we made a boo boo won't happen again (or we will try to hide it better next time ).

Can't imagine what would it be like had Pakistan done it, these same Aussies would be the first ones calling for Pakistan to be banned from cricket - think back to the 2010 fixing saga and what was being said in the wake of it. Heck those were two noballs that didn't effect the game, here we have the Aussies going to town on the ball and directly resulting in a Saffer collapse. But its ok if your skin is white.



#white supremacy

 

[R3verse Swing]

Here's the part I do not understand.

Why designate a newbie (Bancroft) to tamper with the ball knowing that there's about 30 odd cameras pointing at the players!? Perhaps senior management thought that they could pin the incident on an inexperienced player? Even then, Smith spilt the beans!

This will make entertaining reading in the next few weeks!

 

[www787]

Just listened to Nasser Hussain's comments and he made the point about how Pakistan at The Oval in 2006 were docked 5 penalty runs by Darrell Hair with no evidence of ball tampering, and not a single TV camera picking it up, whereas here the umpire didn't even dock any runs despite definitive TV footage and then an attempt to lie about it.

Some how Mamoon will lay the blame for this on every Pakistani for this.

 

[R3verse Swing]

Goes to show what advantage the color of the skin provides. Heck we were docked five runs and there wasn't any evidence of ball tampering and here they have been caught on camera and the umps are like nothing to see here gents lets all move on. Smith is like oops sorry we made a boo boo won't happen again (or we will try to hide it better next time ).

Except it's not like that.

Smith basically said oops, we, including senior management and leadership, pre-planned the entire tampering incident.

He's implicated senior management, which of course doesn't bode well given how Australia have been moaning about crossing the line of late!

 

[KingKhanWC]

As I said, it is always a systematic decision. A player does not randomly decide to play with the ball. The captains are aware. Secondly, it is a myth that it does not happen anymore.

Almost every year, we have a couple of incidents of players getting caught. It does not mean that they get caught every time they do it. They obviously get away with it as well.

You want lengthy bans? Great. How about starting with du Plessis, not only is he a serial ball-tamperer, he is also pretty crap at doing it discreetly, which is why he was caught three times. Make an example out of him by handing him a 5 year ban.

Of course they do.

When Afridi bit the ball or when Tendulkar tampered with it, do you really believe in those two incidents others were aware what was about to happen?

 

[Mamoon]

Of course they do.

When Afridi bit the ball or when Tendulkar tampered with it, do you really believe in those two incidents others were aware what was about to happen?

Afridi was captain when he bit the ball. When a non-captain tampers with the ball, the captain is aware.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Here's the part I do not understand.

Why designate a newbie (Bancroft) to tamper with the ball knowing that there's about 30 odd cameras pointing at the players!? Perhaps senior management thought that they could pin the incident on an inexperienced player? Even then, Smith spilt the beans!

This will make entertaining reading in the next few weeks!

I think it was foolishness out of sheer desperation. Aussies were staring the down the barrel of a series defeat in a tour riddled with animosity. Smith and co knew there only chance to win the series was to clean up SA for less than 300 lead.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Afridi was captain when he bit the ball. If a non-captain tampers with the ball, the captain is aware.

You said a player doesn't do it by himself. Captain or not, it was Afridi's own decision with nobody else having a clue it was about to take place.

What a Tendulkar? Did his captain know. Dont go silent when it's Indians involved.

 

[Sin Nombre]

Top article on Sydney morning herald

Ball tampering episode the worst Australian captaincy crisis since underarm incident


Another article on home page

Dark day for Australian cricket as Steve Smith admits plan to cheat



Glad that the Aussie media is not doing a mamoon and using the everyone does it argument. It is shameful and needs introspection.

 

[Abdullah719]

James Sutherland presser coming up shortly...

 

[Sin Nombre]

I think Smith will be forced to resign the captaincy.

Almost every comment is on the lines of

How stupid of them, for pulling a stunt like this, and how embarrassing it is for our nation. Very disgraceful act, and yes Steve should hold his head in shame and resign.

 

[Mamoon]

You said a player doesn't do it by himself. Captain or not, it was Afridi's own decision with nobody else having a clue it was about to take place.

What a Tendulkar? Did his captain know. Dont go silent when it's Indians involved.

My point is that a player is not going to randomly tamper with the ball without the approval of his captain. If a captain is doing it himself, the players are aware that he is doing it himself. Yes when Tendulkar tampered in 2001, Ganguly must have been aware.

Ball tampering is unethical and wrong, but it happens everywhere.

 

[KingKhanWC]

My point is that a player is not going to randomly tamper with the ball without the approval of his captain. If a captain is doing it himself, the players are aware that he is doing it himself. Yes when Tendulkar tampered in 2001, Ganguly must have been aware.

Ball tampering is unethical and wrong, but it happens everywhere.

So Ganguly was aware Tendulkar was going to tamper.

Well you have to then give Smith and the Aussies credit for at least admitting while the Indians tried to make excuses.

 

[shokz1408]

You said a player doesn't do it by himself. Captain or not, it was Afridi's own decision with nobody else having a clue it was about to take place.

What a Tendulkar? Did his captain know. Dont go silent when it's Indians involved.

That Afridi incident, I recall from Younis khan and Afridi interview, that it was Younis who had said to Afridi to do anything to make the ball talk, but I'm not sure if YK knew he was going to bite it haha.

 

[Aman]

James Sutherland presser coming up shortly...

Any link to this?

 

[Mamoon]

So Ganguly was aware Tendulkar was going to tamper.

Well you have to then give Smith and the Aussies credit for at least admitting while the Indians tried to make excuses.

If Tendulkar actually tampered with the ball, then Ganguly was obviously complicit. Smith actually handled the situation poorly - he panicked and created more trouble for Australia by admitting that the management was involved as well. He should have dealt with it like other captains have in the past.

 

[James]

Smith and Bancroft each being banned for the next three Tests sounds fair to me.

I think Smith might get sacked as captain.

 

[Aman]

Smith and Bancroft each being banned for the next three Tests sounds fair to me.

I think Smith might get sacked as captain.

Bit harsh on Bancroft.

I think a fine and 1 Test suspension for Bancroft is fine.

Smith should get 4, the rest of the leadership team 2 Test suspensions.

Smith and the rest of the leadership team have brought the game into disrepute.

 

[Romali_rotti]

When I saw this live, I thought the ball was being cleaned by sun glass cloth... Wow didnt see that hard yellow bit.... Man I feel bad for Steve Smith, he is actually a good kid, hope he comes out of this wiser and a stronger person, everyone makes mistakes its part of life just dont keep making it.