Smith and Warner banned for a year over ball-tampering scandal

Australia skipper Steve Smith and senior batsman David Warner have been handed a 12-month ban from top-level cricket because of their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in the third Test against South Africa last weekend.

Aside from this, the duo has been banned from representing their respective Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, Sunrisers Hyderbad (Warner) and Rajasthan Royals (Smith), at this year’s tournament, losing contracts worth nearly $2 million each.

‘We have decided to bar them from this season. The replacements will be made available to the two teams,’ IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla told reporters.

Also, opening batsman Cameron Bancroft has been banned for nine months due to his attempt to ‘artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper’.

Ball-tampering

During the day three of the third Test against South Africa, Bancroft used sandpaper to rough up the ball, however, it was believed that he used sticky tape to pick up dirt from the ball.

After the match, it was confirmed by officials that sandpaper was used to roughen the ball.

Smith was charged with knowledge of the potential plan, but Warner was found guilty of the development of the plan by providing ‘of advice to a junior player (Bancroft) regarding how a ball could be artificially altered including demonstrating how it could be done’.

Aside from the bans, Smith and Bancroft have been barred from captaining Australia for a period of two years, while Warner won’t be considered ever again.

Each player must also complete 100 hours of community service before being considered for future playing with Australia.

All three cricketers have the right to challenge the bans and the penalties.

Australia coach Darren Lehman is out of charge as he demonstrated that he was unaware of the cheating.

“A terrible situation” – CA CEO

Talking to reporters, CA CEO James Sutherland told that the players’ actions are unacceptable.

‘This is a terrible situation. There are three guys going home that have been offered sanctions that are life-changing,’ Sutherland told reporters on Wednesday.

‘There is a rebuild that needs to happen to reinstate the faith and the confidence, and I guess the pride that the Australian public had and should have in the Australian cricket team.

‘Questions (are) obviously being asked of lots of people as to why or how that might have happened.

‘That’s part of the purpose of later discussion and review. We’ll clearly take on board whatever comes out of such investigations.

‘We cannot have this happen again. It’s just unquestionable and so obvious. If there are things that allow little things to turn into big things that allow this to happen, then you’ve got to go back to the core and find out what the little things are and address them. That is what we’ll be doing.’

The Australian trio will be replaced for the fourth Test against South Africa, by opening batsman Matthew Renshaw, and Joe Burns, as well as all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.