Australia ball-tampering scandal

[from_the_stands]

I do wonder what the SA players think about the commotion that has followed this incident.

The South Africans will be loving it, and will be expecting several enforced changes to the Oz team for the last Test. I'd say they'll be eyeing off a 3-1 series victory at this point. They've probably all already signed a "good luck in retirement card" for Darren Lehmann.

[SaintPowelly]

Smith and Warner have stood down for the rest of this game ONLY, no word on who has stepped up

[from_the_stands]

Smith and Warner have stood down for the rest of this game ONLY, no word on who has stepped up

Tim Paine.

[GarlicJam]

you say this game only, Powelly, but there will be no standing back up. They are gone - at least as leaders.

[SaintPowelly]

you say this game only, Powelly, but there will be no standing back up. They are gone - at least as leaders.

I agree, but the statement thing I heard read states it was purely for this game

Get Maxwell in the team ASAP

[Durhamfootman]

Hopefully none of the implicated players will be picked up by any teams/franchises in other countries.

that seems rather unlikely to me. I think they would be targeted.... a once in a lifetime chance to get a top quality player in your side for perhaps relatively little dosh. It would probably start a bidding war

'please don't ask for some scruples in modern sport... as a refusal often offends'

[Durhamfootman]

Smith and Warner have now stepped down

[SaintPowelly]

What I don’t understand is the Bancroft sympathy!

People saying he was forced into it etc, it’s not like he was hung out to dry, Australia would have denied any knowledge of that was the case

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bancroft does need to be punished. An older guy made me do it is not an excuse.

That was a frequently heard argument for not banning Mohammad Amir.

Tim Paine is Aussie skipper!

[mikesiva]

Steven Smith and David Warner have been removed as Australia's captain and vice-captain for the remainder of the Cape Town Test against South Africa, as the first fallout of the ball-tampering confession Australia made on the third day of the Test. Wicketkeeper Tim Paine will lead the side for the last two days of the contest.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/ ... ce-captain

[Arthur Crabtree]

Warne and M. Waugh?

[Arthur Crabtree]

In the world of cricket, match fixing is the great wrong and ball tampering comes nowhere near that ultimate misdemeanour. Maybe the Cronje incident is the biggest moral failure.

Personally I have the ICC's permissive justification of chuckers in the noughties and after in next place.

Drugs?

[sussexpob]

Bancroft does need to be punished. An older guy made me do it is not an excuse.

That was a frequently heard argument for not banning Mohammad Amir.

Tim Paine is Aussie skipper!

When your test average is in the 20s, your career is a stake, and the pressure from senior players in your mind could make the difference in another few chances or getting binned, one is inclined under that pressure to do things you wouldn't usually consider.

I have sympathy for Bancroft and would personally cut him some more slack than others.

As AC says, it's an Amir style situation and I had immense sympathy for him

[meninblue]

Good that Smith and Warner are sacked from leadership roles. Cameron should be sacked as well. Ball tampering is cheating and Cameron should have said no to instructions from seniors. One day if he is tempted to tamper ball another day he might even be tempted to throw his wicket or get involved into more severe wrongdoing. The attitude of players in itself is in question. There should be no complacency to anyone involved.

Will IPL franchisees sack Steven Smith and Warner as captain's? Not sure, but they should.

This episode has caused cricket fans to label Smith as Cheat in other countries. He had the reputation of the DR Brainfade and now this has got worse. Last time he said he will not do wrong again and this has happened. Even now he is saying this is first and last time. How to trust him. Smith will find it tough to get this label removed now inspire of his batting greatness.

[GGAS]

Probably an unpopular view, but there seems to be talk of more draconian punishments than are really necessary here. Turnbull certainly has no business getting involved. Ban the senior players for a couple of tests, Bancroft for the last test of the series and move forwards.

It is interesting that this sort of incident draws such a furore, but players blatantly edging and not walking, also pure cheating, is considered ok.

What I will say is with the amount of TV cameras etc around, it is plain stupid to try something like this. Though Trescothick seemed to get away with it in '05.