The ill-tempered series between South Africa and Australia took an extraordinary turn yesterday as Australia’s Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith admitted to ball tampering after being caught by TV cameras on the third day of the third Test in Cape Town. On a day when South Africa strengthened their grip on the game — they led by 294 runs with five second-innings wickets in hand — Bancroft, who had been working on the ball when he was in the field, was captured rubbing a piece of tape, coated with dust from the pitch.
After 12th man Peter Handscomb came on to speak to him, he tried to hide it down his trousers. Umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth, both from England, spoke to Bancroft, who produced his sunglasses carry-bag from his pockets as if to show that it was the only thing he had on his person. The umpires took no action but he was charged by the match officials after play finished.
He and Smith then appeared at a press conference, when the captain admitted to a policy of ball tampering. “The leadership group spoke about it at lunch. I’m not proud of what’s happened, it’s not within the spirit of the game. My integrity and the integrity of the leadership group has come into question, rightfully so.”
Smith declined to say who was in the leadership group. Bancroft said: “We had a discussion with the match officials and I’ve been charged with attempting to change the condition of the ball. I was in the vicinity when the leadership group were discussing it. I was obviously nervous and with hundreds of cameras it’s always a risk. I saw an opportunity to use some tape and granules from rough patches of the wicket to change the ball’s condition. Once I was sighted on the screen I panicked quite a lot, and that’s why I shoved it down my trousers.”
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland was due to address domestic media last night, with a board meeting to discuss what action it might take expected to take place today.
The series, tied at 1-1 after two Tests, has been marked by rancour, with David Warner restrained by teammates after he went to confront South Africa’s Quinton de Kock, following an on-field exchange, during the tea interval in the first Test. On Friday, Australia coach Darren Lehmann confirmed that his team had lodged an official complaint about abuse from South Africa fans.
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