Warner told me to tamper – Bancroft

CRICKET: Cameron Bancroft has revealed David Warner was the one to suggest he should tamper with the ball during Australia’s notorious Test match in South Africa that saw him handed a nine-month ban.

Bancroft’s attempt to manipulate the ball in Cape Town with what was later revealed to be sandpaper was a plan orchestrated, according to a Cricket Australia investigation, by vice-captain Warner.

Now Bancroft has detailed the events in Cape Town in March this year, saying he did not know any better and just “wanted to fit in and feel valued”.

In an interview with an Australian broadcaster, the 26-year-old said: “Dave (Warner) suggested to me to carry the action out on the ball given the situation we were in the game.

“I didn’t know any better because I just wanted to fit in and feel valued really. As simple as that.

“The decision was based around my values, what I valued at the time and I valued fitting in... you hope that fitting in earns you respect and with that, I guess, there came a pretty big cost for the mistake.”

The right-handed batsman admitted, however, he had to take responsibility for his part in the scandal, saying he is not a “victim”.

Former Australia captain Steve Smith was found to have known about the plan midway through the third Test against the Proteas but failed to prevent it and, as such, all three players received lengthy suspensions.