QUESTION OF PRIDE

Australia captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft will be sent home from South Africa and face “significant sanctions” for their role in the ball-tampering scandal that has rocked cricket Down Under.

The serious punishments, which could include lengthy bans for all three and the stripping of the captaincy and vice-captaincy from Smith and Warner permanently, will be announced in the next 24 hours once an internal investigation into the cheating scandal was completed, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said.

“I am angry and disappointed,” Sutherland said, his voice trembling at times as he spoke at a press conference in South Africa. “This is not a good day for Australian cricket.”

Sutherland’s announcement came in a hotel in Johannesburg after he was forced to fly halfway round the world to deal with one of the most embarrassing and damaging incidents in the history of one of cricket’s biggest teams.

Smith and Bancroft were 3 Darren Lehmann whose Australian side face losing a Test series in South Africa for the first time in nearly 50 years. 0 A grim-faced James Sutherland, chief executive of Cricket Australia, faces the press in Johannesburg. forced to make a humiliating Sutherland, is also likely to Lehmann was not involved confession following the be permanently fired as vicecaptain. in the tampering plot, close of play on Saturday after Sutherland said, clearing their plot to tamper with the They all are likely to be him to continue as coach of ball and cheat South Africa banned for more than just the Australia. in a game in Cape Town was one match Smith received for Tim Paine will take over as exposed – almost in comical the offence from the International team captain for the fourth fashion. Cricket Council. and final Test in South Africa,

Having decided to try and “In regards to the three players starting on Friday, while rough up the ball with a on report, I want to stress Smith, Warner and Bancroft piece of yellow adhesive tape that we are contemplating will be on a flight home in the and some dirt, Bancroft was significant sanctions in each next 24 hours, where they will caught on television cameras case,” Sutherland said. “These face a nation outraged by their on the field doing the deed sanctions will reflect the gravity actions. and then trying to hide the tape with which we view what Smith and Bancroft confessed down the front of his trousers. has occurred and the damage to their roles in the

They were caught and forced it has done to the standing of plot, but Warner was not tocomeclean,buttheiractions Australian cricket.” named formally as also being have outraged Australians, Those three were the only part of the cheating until yesterday. who hold their hugely successful players involved in the balltampering cricket plot in the third Their places in the Australian team dear. Test against South Africa on team will be taken by Matt

Sutherland Saturday, Sutherland insisted, Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and spoke repeatedly after receiving only parts Joe Burns, who were all flying about of a report from CA’S integrity over to South Africa in the next the longterm officer Iain Roy. day, Sutherland said. damage Sutherland said that the Australia still have a series the three players internal investigation, which to play, and trail 2-1 ahead of had caused also included two International the fourth and final Test, facing to Australian Cricket Council losing a series in South cricket. integrity officers, had not Africaforthefirsttimeinnearly

“It’s about the been completed. Darren 50 years.

JAMES SUTHERLAND integrity and reputation of Australian cricket and Australian sport,” Sutherland said. “Ultimately it’s about whether Australians can feel proud of their sporting teams.”

Smith, the golden boy of Australian cricket, is set to lose the captaincy for good. Warner, whose role in the scandal was officially confirmed for the first time by

“It is about the integrity and reputation of Australian cricket and Australian sport. Ultimately, it’s about whether Australians can feel proud of their sporting teams”