Ball-tampering ‘an international problem’
Australia coach Justin Langer reckons ball-tampering is an international problem, but he’s promised it won’t happen on his watch in charge of the national cricket side.
David Warner (12 months), skipper Steve Smith (12 months) and Cameron Bancroft (nine months) were all banned for their involvement in using sandpaper to alter the state of the ball in the test series in South Africa earlier this year.
An independent review launched in the wake of the scandal painted a grim picture of Cricket Australia’s culture and what led players to make such a horrible decision.
But instances of balltampering have been spread far and wide over the years, with current South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis himself a two-time convicted tamperer.
Langer, who took over as head coach of Australia in May, said action needed to be taken to ensure tampering is eliminated.
‘‘My honest view is it’s an international problem,’’ Langer told former team-mate Adam Gilchrist in a Fox Cricket interview.
‘‘But I can’t for a single second understand how we took sandpaper out onto the field. That doesn’t make any sense to me.
‘‘What I do know though is that the issue with people balltampering is something that’s going on internationally, and that’s a real worry.
‘‘We’ve got to get the pitches right around the world so that the ball does move, whether it spins or swings. But to go to the point we did was a huge mistake.’’
Langer was at home when Australia’s ball-tampering scandal unfolded. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing on the TV.
‘‘I remember sitting on the sofa the night it happened, and as an ex-player and someone who loves the Australian cricket team I was sad, I was angry, I was completely shocked,’’ Langer said.
‘‘I can promise you it won’t be happening again. We’ve got to make Australians proud. There’s no point winning and behaving poorly.
‘‘I don’t think Australians respect that. We can play hard as long as we win fair. ‘‘
Calls are growing for the bans on Smith, Warner, and Bancroft to be slashed.
But Cricket Australia is holding firm on the bans, with any reductions thought unlikely.