Bancroft exposes Warner as chief tamperer
Cameron Bancroft has further exposed David Warner as the chief instigator behind the balltampering scandal that rocked Australian cricket to the core this year.
Bancroft (nine months), excaptain Steve Smith and former vice-captain Warner (both 12 months) were all banned in the aftermath of the cheating saga that erupted in Australia’s third test against South Africa in Cape Town in March.
The controversial series between the two nations was littered with ugly incidents on and off the field but the balltampering incident topped the lot after Bancroft was caught by television cameras shoving a yellow piece of sandpaper down his pants.
Warner has been uncovered as the mastermind behind the plan to scuff the ball with sandpaper at Newlands but Bancroft has opened up on more details about the plot, admitting his own faults.
‘‘Dave [Warner] suggested to me to carry the action out on the ball given the situation we were in the game and I didn’t know any better,’’ Bancroft told Fox Sports.
‘‘I didn’t know any better because I just wanted to fit in and feel valued. As simple as that.
‘‘The decision was based around my values, what I valued at the time and I valued fitting in. You hope that fitting in earns you respect and with that, I guess, there came a pretty big cost for the mistake.’’
Darren Lehmann resigned as Australia coach after the disgraced trio of Bancroft, Smith and Warner all made emotional public apologies amid of wave of anger within Australia and around the sporting world.
The ill-fated series in South Africa was during Bancroft’s first season with Australia’s test team after his debut in the first test of last summer’s Ashes series against England.
Bancroft bizarrely fronted the media with Smith in Cape Town after the third test’s third day when the scandal kicked off.
The pair admitted to the plan to rough up the ball with an object later revealed to be a tape of sandpaper.
Added Bancroft: ‘‘I take no other responsibility but the responsibility I have on myself and my own actions because I am not a victim. I had a choice and I made a massive mistake and that is what is in my control.’’
The right-handed batsman from Western Australia also admitted to thinking about what would have happened had he refused to tamper with the ball.
‘‘I would have gone to bed and I would have felt like I had let everybody down,’’ he told Fox Sports.
‘‘I would have felt like I had let the team down. I would have felt like I had hurt our chances to win the game of cricket.’’
South Africa were controlling the third test when the incident occurred and the hosts went on to win that game by 332 runs before wrapping up a 3-1 series triumph in the fourth test.
Bancroft has turned to yoga as the 26-year-old attempts to rebuild his career after returning to play club cricket for Willetton in Perth.
The Longstaff Review conducted in the wake of the cheating saga expressed concerns about the culture within Cricket Australia.
Bancroft hopes the turmoil since Cape Town can lead to positive change.
‘‘The reason why it was painful is because the truth hurts. Maybe in that review there was some truths that were pretty hard to accept,’’ he told Fox Sports.
‘‘What does that bring? It brings an amazing opportunity to do something about it. Only Cricket Australia will know if they are being true to themselves, to be able to own up to some of those recommendations.’’
‘‘You hope that fitting in earns you respect and with that . . . there came a pretty big cost for the mistake.’’ Cameron Bancroft