On Saturday, Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft landed in controversy after a video of him tampering with the ball went was telecast around the world, questioning the scruples – or the lack of them – employed by the Australian cricketers to win at any cost.
On Saturday, Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft landed in controversy after a video of him tampering with the ball went was telecast around the world, questioning the scruples – or the lack of them – employed by the Australian cricketers to win at any cost.
Bancroft is seen using a material, which appears to be sandpaper, to alter the condition of the ball to help it reverse swing. He is later seen hiding the material near his abdominal guard and showing the umpires a piece of cloth.
Later at the press conference, both Bancroft and Australian captain Steve Smith admitted to tampering with the ball, leading to an uproar in the cricketing world, with people braying for Smith’s blood and asking Cricket Australia to sack him. However, while CA has condemned the incident and ordered a high-level inquiry into it, they announced that Smith will continue as Australian captain.
Earlier, Bancroft’s conduct in the middle session drew great scrutiny after he was captured by television cameras moving an unknown yellow object from his pocket into his trousers.
The TV footage also appeared to show him shining the ball before putting something that had been in his hand back in his pocket.
He was spoken to by umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth, during which Bancroft showed them a black piece of cloth, and play continued.
Former cricketers Graeme Smith and Shane Warne, though, made pertinent points when they questioned the involvement of Australian captain Steve Smith and head coach Darren Lehmann.
“He’s got that object in his hand and he takes it to the ball,” former Proteas skipper Smith said during commentary. He added that Bancroft put away the object after being alerted by his dressing room: “There you see him put it back in his pocket and then when the message comes out to say ‘listen, something going on’ he then hides it in his crotch. It’s quite obvious that’s not the same thing that he’s hidden away,” said Smith, referring to the sunglass cover Bancroft produced when questioned by the umpires.
“You’ve got to ask some tough questions of Steve Smith and Darren Lehmann,” added said. “They’ve obviously driven this process, they’re the leadership. He’s a guy who’s played seven or eight Test matches. You can’t see him deciding that this is what he’s going to do on a given day. The decision was obviously taken behind the scenes. If it is sand paper it’s just really silly and not on.”
Here is a timeline of Saturday's incident which could cause irreparable damage to Australia's reputation as a cricketing side:
LUNCH: South Africa go to lunch with a lead of more than 100 and the loss of a single wicket.
Australia's leadership group, including Smith and other senior players, hatch a plan to tamper with the ball to gain reverse swing. Bancroft is chosen to carry out the task.
TAMPERING: Bancroft uses yellow sticky tape and grit from the pitch and to work on the ball while attempting to shine it.
CAMERA: Host broadcasters repeatedly show close-up footage of Bancroft rubbing the ball on the big screen at Newlands. Footage also suggests Australia head coach Darren Lehmann saw the images and subsequently sent substitute Peter Handscomb on to the field to alert Bancroft.
LEHMANN: The head coach is seen talking on a two-way radio while Handscomb is out on the field with a similar device speaking to Bancroft.
TAPE: Television images show Bancroft, after being alerted, shoving the tape clumsily down the front of his trousers to keep it out of the gaze of the umpires. Bancroft later admitted he was nervous and panicked when he realised that cameras in the stadium had caught him in the act.
UMPIRES: The on-field officials confront Bancroft who produces a black sunglass bag from his pockets and the umpires then allow play to continue.
INTERVIEWS: Australia opt out of the post-match broadcast interviews with Smith and Bancroft arriving late for the news conference.
Facing the cameras, Smith admitted the side's leadership group had planned to tamper with the ball. Bancroft said he was charged by the ICC with a Level 2 offence for attempting to alter the condition of the ball.
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