THEY ARE A LAUGHING STOCK
Smith one of three banished... but fury as coach keeps job
Australian cricket faced further ridicule last night after coach Darren lehmann clung on to his job amid claims he knew nothing about his players’ decision to tamper with the ball during last week’s test match in Cape town.
Cricket australia boss James sutherland promised ‘significant sanctions’ against steve smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft following the cheating scandal, but insisted they were the only three members of the dressing-room aware of the plans.
all three will be sent home today, with smith said to be ‘distraught and very upset’. One senior australian journalist described the tourists as ‘a team in mourning’.
the disgraced trio will learn their fate today, with tim Paine officially appointed captain in smith’s place. But not everyone was impressed by sutherland’s failure to announce the punishments that await australia’s captain, vice- captain and opening bat. in a furious tweet, Michael Clarke, smith’s predecessor, said: ‘the truth, the full story, accountability and leadership — until the public get this, australian cricket is in deep s***!’
He added: ‘too many reputations on the line for the full story not to come out. Cape town change room is a very small place!’
and there was widespread disbelief at the claim that lehmann was ignorant of what was going on under his watch.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan tweeted: ‘Only 3 people knew. # Mya***’. Ex- England wicketkeeper Matt Prior was equally sceptical, tweeting: ‘i can’t believe for one minute that only three players knew what was going on. in EVErY team i played in, good luck doing anything to the ball without consulting the bowlers first! Be taking your life in your own hands.’
the incredulity followed tV images of lehmann talking to 12th man Peter Handscomb on a walkie-talkie moments before the latter entered the field of play to talk to Bancroft.
Bancroft then shoved a piece of yellow sticky-tape, which he later admitted was coated with granules of dirt for rubbing on the ball to help achieve reverse-swing, down the front of his trousers. With Ca’s inquiry into the controversy incomplete, it was left to sutherland to express his disgust after three days in which the name of australian cricket has been dragged through the mud.
‘We understand and share the anger of fans and the broader australian community,’ he said.
‘ the issue goes beyond the technical nature of the offences and codes of conduct. it is about the integrity and reputation of australian cricket and australian sport. ultimately, it is about whether australians can feel proud of their national sporting teams.
‘that depends as much on the way the players conduct themselves as it does about winning or losing. the sanctions that will be contemplated are significant.’
Pressed three times on whether smith, Warner and Bancroft had cheated, he took refuge in platitudes. He did, however, say an ‘expert panel’ would conduct a review into the ‘ conduct and culture of our australian men’s teams’.
‘the clear focus will be on reengaging with australian fans and the public to rebuild respect and pride,’ said sutherland.
‘ Cricket australia need to redefine what is expected of the players. Winning is important, but not at the expense of the laws or the spirit of the game.’
asked whether the Cape town incident was a one-off, he said that iain roy, the head of Ca’s integrity unit, believed it was ‘ an isolated incident’. He added: ‘i certainly hope it is.’
that followed news that the iCC had ruled out taking retrospective action against australia following
Sportsmail’s revelation that Warner told England players at an end-of-series drinks party that he had tampered with the ball during the ashes.
England’s policy of not commenting publicly on the allegations for fear of looking like bad losers after their 4-0 defeat continued as coach trevor Bayliss, speaking from new Zealand, said he had ‘no complaints’.
But Bayliss, who coached smith at new south Wales, said he was ‘disappointed and as an australian i’m embarrassed. steve is a lovely young bloke who has made a terrible mistake and i’m sure Cricket australia will work out the course of action required.’
those views were echoed by former skipper Clarke. ‘i hope people can forgive,’ he said. ‘steve smith’s a great young guy with a heart of gold. i just think he’s made a big mistake.’
Meanwhile, the iCC will consider stiffer punishments for balltampering in the future.