Aussie skipper smith regrets ball tampering

Captain Steve Smith admitted Australia had deliberately tampered with the ball during the third Test against South Africa.

Smith said he was “incredibly sorry” for bringing the game “into disrepute” after team-mate Cameron Bancroft was caught rubbing a piece of tape, coated with dust from the pitch, on the ball while fielding.

Bancroft attempted, after speaking to 12th man Peter Handscomb, to hide the tape down his trousers but the video evidence was clear and he was charged by the match officials after play finished on day three in Cape Town.

He and Smith appeared afterwards at a press conference at which Smith said: “The leadership group knew about it and spoke about it at lunch.

“I’m not proud of what’s happened, it’s not within the spirit of the game. My integrity and the integrity of the leadership group has come into question, and rightfully so.”

On-field umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth, both from England, took no action after speaking to Bancroft, but he was charged after the day’s play.

Bancroft said: “We had a discussion with the match officials and I’ve been charged with attempting to change the condition of the ball.

“We had a discussion during the break and, on myself, I saw an opportunity to use some tape and granules from rough patches of the wicket to change the ball’s condition.

“Once I was sighted on the screen I panicked quite a lot, and that’s why I shoved it down my trousers.”

Smith declined to “name names” but insisted the decision was taken by players rather than the coaching staff.

“We thought it was a possible way to get an advantage, obviously it didn’t work. It was a poor choice and I deeply regret our actions.”

He insisted, though: “I won’t consider stepping down. It’s a big error in judgement and we’ll learn from it.”