Smith somewhat in the dark over ball-tampering saga
Steve Smith was not aware of key elements of Australia’s ball tampering plot until he saw the incident on the big screen during the Newlands test against South Africa, according to Cricket Australia’s investigation.
While David Warner refused on Saturday to divulge his exact involvement in the ball tampering crisis that has rocked Australian cricket, details are starting to emerge from the incident.
It’s understood investigators were told Smith did not know how the plan would be carried out until after Bancroft had been exposed on the big screen. It’s believed they found Smith had expressed his dislike of the plan but did not attempt to stop it.
It’s understood CA’S investigation found that the sandpaper was used twice on the ball, which umpires believed had not been sufficiently altered to warrant replacement, and had come from a kit bag though it’s unclear who supplied it for use. Sandpaper is commonly used by players to smooth their bats.
The revelation about Smith is consistent with CA’S charge sheet, which alleged he had ‘‘knowledge of a potential plan’’ to tamper with the ball and did not ‘‘take steps to seek to prevent the development and implementation of that plan’’.
Smith, who was stripped of the captaincy and suspended from playing domestic and international cricket for 12 months, has accepted full responsibility for his role in the episode, describing it as
a ‘‘failure of leadership’’. He cannot be considered for a leadership position for two years.
The saga has damaged his high standing in the game and cost him
considerably financially. Smith, who holds a lucrative Cricket Australia contract, has been kicked out of this year’s edition of the Indian Premier League, where
he had a A$2.4 million deal with the Rajasthan Royals, and lost personal endorsements with Sanitarium and Commonwealth Bank.
Warner was the last of the three
involved in the ball tampering plot to issue a tearful apology on Saturday. In contrast to Bancroft and Smith, who addressed media on Thursday night upon arrival from South Africa, the former vicecaptain’s press conference was met with widespread disapproval.
Warner accepted full responsibility for his part in the plot but his carefully scripted answers won little sympathy. Warner was suspended for 12 months from domestic and international cricket but, unlike Smith, his aspirations to return to an official leadership position are gone.
Bancroft, who has lost his deal with English county side Somerset, was banned for nine months and now faces an uphill battle to regain his test berth.
The damaging scandal has left Australian cricket in disarray, with the captain and vice-captain ousted and coach Darren Lehmann announcing his resignation.
CA lost its test sponsor, Magellan, who had been one summer into a three-year deal believed to be worth $20 million.
There was further bad news when it was announced long-time broadcast partner Channel Nine had signed a deal to telecast the Australian Open. It comes as the governing body is negotiating a new TV deal.