A divided house?
CRICKET AUSTRALIA ISSUE 12-MONTH BANS EACH FOR SMITH AND WARNER
Australian dressing room no longer a happy place as top men Smith and Warner leave South Africa to serve year-long bans |
Australia skipper Steve Smith heading home from South Africa in disgrace and his deputy David Warner lost the captaincy of his Indian Premier League side yesterday after a cheating scandal left the team fractured amid mounting suspicion that the full story has not yet emerged.
Smith, Warner and opening batsman Cameron Bancroft, the player caught on camera attempting to doctor the ball with a piece of tape, have been banished for their role in a balltampering incident, which has dragged Australian cricket’s reputation through the mud, but coach Darren Lehmann is to remain in charge. Smith and Warner have been suspended by Cricket Australia for 12 months, while Bancroft faces nine months on the sidelines.
Warner stepped down on Wednesday as captain of Indian Premier League side Sunrisers Hyderabad as reports emerged he had been ostracised by Australia’s fast bowlers, who feel he unfairly linked them to the row.
Smith had already been replaced as skipper of rival side Rajasthan Royals in the cashrich Twenty20 competition, due to start next month as the controversy rages on.
“In light of recent events, David Warner has stepped down as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad,” Sunrisers chief executive K. Shanmugam said on the team’s official Twitter page.
Wicketkeeper Tim Paine will take over the captaincy for the fourth and final Test starting in Johannesburg on Friday, with hosts South Africa leading a bad-tempered series 2-1 as Matt Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns fly to South Africa to replace the exiled trio.
Lehmann was not punished but further sanctions on the three players are to be announced said Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland.
“I understand and share the anger and disappointment of Australian fans,” Sutherland said of the controversy in the third Test in Cape Town last Saturday.
“On behalf of Cricket Australia, I want to apologise to all Australians that these events have taken place, especially to all the kids.”
Core values
Smith had already been suspended for one Test and docked his entire match fee by the International Cricket Council, and Sutherland said further punishments “will reflect the gravity of the situation”.
Cricket Australia also announced an independent review into “the conduct and culture” of the team, which the ACA said should examine the behaviour of administrators.
“Australia’s core values of respect, integrity and fairness must be brought to bear on the game of cricket through such a process,” it said.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke believes there is more to the story that meets the eye. “Too many reputations on the line for the full story not to come out. Cape Town change room is a very small place!” he tweeted.
Former England Test captain Michael Vaughan was similarly unconvinced, tweeting “Only 3 people knew… #[expletive].”
Warner, a divisive figure in the world game, has become the focus of Australian media, who blame him for the scandal. The Australian newspaper said there had been a “fierce feud” in the dressing room sparked by Warner’s alleged testimony to Cricket Australia’s integrity officers, with pace spearheads Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood reportedly livid at being implicated.
I understand and share the anger and disappointment of Australian fans. I want to apologise to all Australians that these events have taken place.” James Sutherland » Cricket Australia chief