Tearful Lehmann steps down

THE fallout from the Australia balltampering scandal continued yesterday with another resignation and plenty of apologetic tears on a remarkable day in cricket’s history.

Coach Darren Lehmann, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft all made emotionally-charged statements as Lehmann announced his resignation and the two batsmen made further public apologies.

David Warner, the instigator of the whole sorry affair, could only publish a tweet and later make a brief statement to waiting reporters as he and his wife carried their two young children through Sydney airport.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland, meanwhile, said he is committed to his job and will not resign in the wake of the scandal.

Lehmann will leave his post as Australia’s head coach after the fourth Test against South Africa, which begins in Johannesburg today. Earlier, Smith and Bancroft both repeated their apologies for their actions, while cricket’s international governing body announced a wide-ranging review into the behaviour of players.

During the Third Test in Cape Town last weekend, Bancroft was caught by TV cameras rubbing the ball with sandpaper. It emerged the conspiracy was Warner’s idea and involved a “leadership group” which included Smith and Bancroft.

Smith and Warner have been banned from international and domestic cricket for 12 months by Cricket Australia, while Bancroft was hit with a nine-month suspension for his role.

An investigation into the ball-tampering by Cricket Australia had cleared Lehmann, with Sutherland saying on Tuesday the coach had no prior knowledge of the plot.

Lehmann, though, accepted that “as a team we know we’ve let so many people down and for that we’re truly sorry.”

Speaking at a press conference, Lehmann said: “I’m ultimately responsible for the culture of the team and I’ve been thinking about my position for a while.

“Despite telling media yesterday that I’m not resigning, after reviewing Steve and Cameron’s hurting it’s only fair that I make this decision.

“This will allow Cricket Australia to complete a full review into the culture of the team and allow them to implement changes to regain the trust of the Australian public.

“This is the right thing for Australian cricket.”

Both Smith, in Sydney, and Bancroft, in Perth, fought back tears as they faced the media.

Lehmann was also emotional as he thanked his wife Andrea and four children as well as close friends “for allowing me to do this job and supporting me 100 per cent every step of the way.”

Warner, the third cricketer banned for the third Test ball-tampering plot which he devised, said on Twitter that his plan was a “stain on the game”.

Chief executive Sutherland later addressed the media in Johannesburg, when he said he remained “absolutely committed” to the job and praised Lehmann’s “incredible work ethic”.

Smith, Warner and Bancroft will be offered the support of Cricket Australia following their “life-changing mistakes” in a bid to eventually “allow them to rehabilitate and get back to playing the game they love,” Sutherland added.

Somerset confirmed Bancroft would not join them in the new season, as had been planned, because of his role in the saga.