Smith breaks down in tears
Steve Smith has broken down in tears in talking about the shame his decision to allow ball tampering has had on his parents.
Smith said one of the things he had learned from the events in the third test against South Africa was that when you make a questionable decision you should think of the consequences on others.
‘‘To see the way my old man has been,’’ he said, breaking down and struggling for his words, ‘‘and my mum, it hurts . . . I just want to say I’m sorry for the pain I have brought to Australia and the fans and the public.’’
Smith was speaking at a press conference at Sydney Airport on his arrival back home, 24 hours after being handed a 12-month ban on playing for Australia after one of his players, Cameron Bancroft, altered the shape of the ball with sandpaper.
Smith was found culpable of allowing it to take place, even though his vice-captain David Warner, was found to be the instigator of the plan.
‘‘What happened in Cape Town has already been laid out by Cricket Australia. Tonight I want to make clear that as captain of the Australian cricket team, I take full responsibility,’’ he said at the start of his statement.
‘‘I’m sorry. To my knowledge this has never happened before. This is the first time I’ve seen this happen and I can assure you it’ll never be happening again.’’
He said he would do everything to make up for his mistake and the damage it had caused.
‘‘I know I will regret this for the rest of my life. I hope in time I can earn back respect and forgiveness. I’ve been so privileged and honoured to represent my country and captain the Australian cricket team. Cricket is the greatest game in the world, it’s been my life and I hope it can be again,’’ Smith said.
‘‘Good people make mistakes and I’ve made a big mistake by allowing this to happen. It was a huge error of judgment on my behalf and I’m truly sorry.’’
Just 30 minutes earlier Bancroft asked people for forgiveness when he spoke at WACA cricket stadium on his arrival back.
Bancroft, who was banned for nine months, and Smith had originally said it was sticky tape he used on the ball.
‘‘All I can do is ask for forgiveness, so I hope you can find it in your hearts to forgive me,’’ a visibly distraught Bancroft told the press conference on Thursday evening.
‘‘I lied about the sandpaper. I panicked in that situation and I’m very sorry,’’ he said.
He said he had not tampered with a cricket ball previously.
‘‘It completely compromises my values as a player and as a person. It’s not acceptable,’’ he said. ‘‘I had the opportunity to take control of my own values and actions and I didn’t. That’s a real embarrassment for me. I’m sorry.’’
Bancroft refused to speak of other players.
‘‘All I can do in the short term is to ask for forgiveness and for you to find it in your hearts to help me progress on that journey, ‘‘ he said.
‘‘I’m not here to comment about other players involved, I just want to show how sorry I am. At the end of the day it’s my actions and I’m accountable. I am extremely disappointed, and I regret my actions.
‘‘Through this whole experience and this whirlwind few days, it’s been so obvious to see how important the game of cricket is to Australia and we’re representations of that.
‘‘For me, it’s been a very big wake-up call to myself, for what that means and how an amazing opportunity it is to wear the baggy green cap. I feel like I’ve let everyone down in Australia and I’m not that proud of that and that it’s going to take time for that to heal and to earn that respect back from everybody.
‘‘For the last few days sitting in my own company and thinking the biggest thing that’s broken my heart is that I’ve given up my spot in the team to someone else for free.’’
As the fallout continues, English county Somerset has shown Bancroft the door.
Bancroft was contracted to return to Somerset this season but they have now backed out of the deal.
‘‘I have met this morning with the CEO, club captain and head coach and, with the club’s best interests at the centre of our decision, can confirm Cameron Bancroft will not be our overseas player for the 2018 season,’’ Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry said in a statement.
‘‘We as a club have been monitoring this process closely, alongside gathering as much additional information as we can.
‘‘I have spoken numerous times to Cameron since last Saturday, he has spoken very maturely. He shared his deep regret and apologised to everyone associated to the club.’’
Earlier on Thursday, Warner apologised via social media and said he took responsibility for the part he played in the incident.
‘‘To cricket fans in Australia and all over the world: I am currently on my way back to Sydney. Mistakes have been made which have damaged cricket,’’ he wrote. ‘‘I apologise for my part and take responsibility for it. I understand the distress this has caused the sport and its fans. It’s a stain on the game and the sport we all love and I have loved since I was a boy.
‘‘I need to take a deep breath and spend time with my family, friends, and trusted advisers. You will hear from me in a few days.’’
The ACA noted that the grading and sanctions for the players were well above what the ICC had implemented, that the bans were not reasonable on a world scale and that CA’s board shouldn’t have been the ‘‘deliberative body on the proposed sanctions’’.