Inquiry begins into Test cheating scandal
CRICKET Australia’s head of integrity will travel to South Africa to investigate a cheating scandal before the fate of Test captain Steve Smith and others involved are announced.
Former Australia stars Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich have questioned Smith’s future as skipper after he admitted he and the leadership group approved Cameron Bancroft’s illegal ball tampering on day three of the third Test against South Africa.
CA chief executive James Sutherland refused to make a call on Smith’s long-term position yesterday, but said integrity boss Iain Roy and head of high performance Pat Howard would be sent to Cape Town to investigate the matter.
“We are in the middle of the game right now and that game needs to conclude,” Sutherland said. “But over the course of the next couple of days we will get to the bottom of this and we will take appropriate action.”
Sutherland was yet to speak to Smith, but made his disappointment over the matter clear.
“We are shocked and extremely disappointed by what we saw on the field,” he said.
The CEO also avoided addressing Darren Lehmann’s future as coach, after Smith claimed the mentor had no role in the planning of the illegal practice.
“Iain’s brief will be to gather relevant information we need to address this matter and to understand it better,” Sutherland said. “There is an element process that needs to be undertaken here ... by appointing our head of integrity to this project, it is being dealt with as a matter of urgency and seriousness.”
Smith has made it clear he doesn’t intend to stand down as skipper.
At lunch on day three of the Test, he and his leadership group discussed the merits of using sticky tape to illegally alter the ball.
Bancroft was then caught using the tape, which carried debris from the pitch, while working on the ball.
The opener, who attempted to hide the tape from umpires, was later charged by the match referee.
Former skipper Michael Clarke was among the millions of Australians waking up yesterday to news bulletins they could scarcely believable.
“Please tell me this is a bad dream,” Clarke posted on Twitter.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan led a chorus of condemnation and criticism from other former players.
“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,” he tweeted.
The four-Test series has been marred by a handful of ugly controversies, starting with a staircase stoush between David Warner and Quinton de Kock.