Not just Smith, Warner; ICC at fault as well

and is now perceived as the ring leader in the tampering incident, would have added fuel to fire.

While the players have been punished both cricket-wise and financially and coach Darren Lehmann has taken the proper course of action and stood down, it’s to be hoped they’re not the only ones who pay a hefty price.

The CA and ICC have to accept some of the blame for the fact that cricketing behaviour worldwide has plummeted to these depths. They have consistently failed to halt the slide in on-field behaviour that has increasingly undermined the game’s image.

Then, there’s the reaction of BCCI. Smith and Warner have not only relinquished their leadership roles in IPL, they’ve been banned by BCCI from the 2018 version. Whilst this is a severe hit to their bank balance, it may also be sparing them the wrath of the Indian public.

It’s also a welcome occurrence if it’s a sign that BCCI is cracking down on bad behaviour in its jurisdiction. Its governance in recent years has been less than inspiring and if the latest move represents a shift in attitude among administrators, then the Cape Town calamity won’t have been a complete black hole.

Cricket has been heading down a slippery slope for a while, to the point where the credibility of the game has been severely shaken. Strong leadership has been needed to correct this image but none has been forthcoming.

It’s the administrators who either stuff up or are slow to react and eventually the players suffer the consequences. Smith, Warner and Bancroft have suffered an immediate backlash but it will be the embarrassment that follows the stigma of cheating like an ever-present shadow that will cause lingering pain.

Let’s hope this instance of poor judgement proves to be a wake-up call for cricket overall and not just the three Australian players.