‘Please tell methis is a bad dream’ ‘Sorry’ Smith will not resign
Australians condemned for cheating
The cricket community has reacted with shock and outrage to revelations of Australia’s premeditated attempt to cheat in the third test against South Africa.
Steve Smith and his leadership group discussed the merits of using sticky tape to illegally alter the ball at lunch on day three of the contest in Cape Town.
Cameron Bancroft was then caught using the tape, which had debris from the pitch, while working on the ball.
The opening batsman, who attempted to hide the tape from umpires, has been charged by the match referee.
Michael Clarke was among the millions of Australians waking up yesterday to headlines and news bulletins they could scarcely believe.
‘‘WHAT THE ........ HAVE I JUST WOKEN UP TO. Please tell me this is a bad dream,’’ Clarke posted on Twitter.
Michael Vaughan led 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,’’ former England captain Vaughan tweeted.
The four-test series between Australia and South Africa has been marred by a handful of ugly controversies, starting with a staircase stoush between David Warner and Quinton de Kock.
On the field, the series was locked 1-1 and the team’s desperation to win has overridden their moral compasses.
Off the field, Cricket Australia has been trying to improve the image of its side while lodging an official complaint about the vile nature of abuse from South African spectators.
‘‘The Australian camp has been lecturing people lately on how the game should be played and a line that shouldn’t be crossed,’’ former England captain Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports
‘‘Some of the stuff that has come out of the Australian camp, especially, has been laughable.
‘‘Well, it looks like they’re on the wrong side of the line here.
‘‘It does not look good for the image of the game. It looks terrible, a premeditated move to get reverse swing and a blatant attempt to ball tamper.’’
Injured Proteas paceman Dale Steyn and recently-retired batsman Kevin Pietersen questioned whether coach Darren Lehmann was aware of Australia’s plan, something Smith denied while speaking to reporters.
‘‘This will be Darren Lehmann’s greatest test as a coach, cos (sic) I will struggle to believe that this was all Bancroft’s idea,’’ Pietersen posted on Twitter.
Steyn replied that ‘‘nothing in professional sport is done without the consent of your captain and coach’’.
Even Australian legend Shane Warne was furious with what he witnessed, tweeting: ‘‘Very disappointed with the pictures I saw on our coverage here in Cape Town. If proven the alleged ball tampering is what we all think it is - then I hope Steve Smith and Darren Lehmann do the press conference to clean this mess up.’’
The Daily Telegraph in Sydney headlined: ‘‘Smith’s shock admission: We’re cheats.’’
‘‘Dark day for Australian cricket as Steve Smith admits plans to cheat,’’ the Sydney Morning Herald added. Steve Smith insists he has no plans to relinquish the captaincy over a ball-tampering saga destined to represent one of Australian cricket’s darkest hours.
‘‘I won’t be considering stepping down. I still think I’m the right person for the job,’’ Smith told reporters.
‘‘Today was a big mistake on my behalf and on the leadership group’s behalf as well,’’ Smith said.
‘‘I take responsibility as the captain. I need to take control of the ship. I’m incredibly sorry for trying to bring the game into disrepute the way we did.
‘‘This is certainly something I’m not proud of and something that I can hope to learn from and come back strong from.
‘‘My integrity, the team’s integrity, the leadership group’s integrity has come into question.’’
The skipper wouldn’t divulge the other teammates involved in the discussion. The leadership group has featured David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the past.
Smith, with the exception of a couple of incidents on a spiteful tour of India last year, had enjoyed a squeaky-clean start to his century-laden captaincy.
‘‘I am embarrassed,’’ the 28-year-old said. ‘‘I know the boys in the shed are embarrassed as well.
‘‘It’s a poor reflection on everyone in that dressing room, particularly the leaders.’’
Smith insisted coaching staff, including Darren Lehmann, were not aware of the premeditated plan and that his side have never tried using tape to scuff the ball before.