Three Australian players – Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft – implicated in the ball tampering saga from the Newlands Test have been stood down for the final match of the series against South Africa this week, and given a stay of execution with regards to their futures.
Addressing a highly-anticipated press conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday (March 27) night, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland confirmed that captain Smith, his deputy Warner and batsman Bancroft would fly home to Australia on Wednesday. Bancroft was caught on camera using a piece of tape to rub granules from the pitch onto the rough side of the ball and had already been charged by the ICC, while Smith was set to miss the match through an ICC ban after admitting that the plan had been concocted by a “leadership group” in the team. Although Warner was not named at the time, his part in the affair was widely reported before Sutherland confirmed the involvement on Tuesday.
The trio will be replaced in the squad by Matthew Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns, while Tim Paine will captain Australia in a game that they must win to earn a share of the series.
Despite the announcement, Sutherland’s press conference left more questions than answers. With CA’s investigation only set to be completed on Wednesday morning, he was unable to announce sanctions for the three players who have been charged, saying only that they would be “significant”. Sutherland promised that the sanctions would be confirmed within 24 hours.
Among the preliminary findings of the investigation that have been considered and discussed with the CA board was that Smith, Warner and Bancroft were the only three individuals with prior knowledge of the ball tampering plot. “No other players or support staff had prior knowledge, including Darren Lehmann, who despite inaccurate media reports, has not resigned from his position,” said Sutherland. “He will continue to coach the Australia team under his current contract.”
Sutherland confirmed that the three players have been reported for breaching CA’s code of conduct under article 2.3.5, and their offence relates to “conduct that is contrary to the spirit of game, unbecoming of a representative, harmful to the interests of the game or brings the game into disrepute.” They are expected to know their sanctions by the time they fly out of Johannesburg, with most anticipating long suspensions for an act that has been labeled ‘cheating’ back in Australia.
Sutherland refused to use the word in spite of repeated prompting by journalists, saying only: “This is not in the laws of the game. This is not in the spirit of the game. I am angry and disappointed. It is not a good day for Australian cricket.” His unwillingness to apply the term was no doubt related to legal implications and possible prejudice.
“In regard to the three players on report, I want to stress that we are contemplating significant sanctions in each case,” he promised. “These sanctions will reflect the gravity of what we think has occurred, and the damage it has done to Australian cricket. I fully understand the appetite for urgency for more, but urgency must be balanced with due process given the serious implications for all involved.”
With regards to Smith and Warner’s participation in the Indian Premier League, Sutherland said that their possible suspension by CA would not provide the organisation with grounds to refuse a No-Objection Certificate. “There are certain grounds with regards to NOCs. I’m not sure this qualifies, but if there are significant suspensions that flow from this then that ultimately will be a matter for the BCCI and IPL,” he said.
While Australia will now have a significantly changed team for the fourth Test in terms of player personnel, with three of their top four batsmen missing, the presence of Lehmann as head coach will be one of the puzzles that remained after Sutherland’s briefing. Television footage that was captured and aired as the tampering saga played out on a dramatic third day in Cape Town appeared to implicate Lehmann, who was seen giving discreet orders over a two-way radio to Peter Handscomb. The substitute fielder subsequently went onto the field and was shown having an exchange with Bancroft, who shoved the offending tape down the front of his trousers moments after.
Media reports had suggested that Lehmann was preparing to resign his position, but Sutherland said he had not received any such communication from the coach, whose role in the team’s aggressive culture has come under the microscope since the scandal broke. Sutherland confirmed that CA would “take the opportunity to review the conduct and culture of our professional teams”, but would not comment on Lehmann’s part in that culture or what his future may hold.
