Australia tour of South Africa 2018

[Master Khan]

Its a horrible dream. 1 year ban is really harsh. Both are professional - Kumarjit Biswas

1 Year is not that bad to be honest, Mohammed Amir and Mohammed Asif got like 5 years..but yeah match fixing is worse I guess.

 

[Velocity]

Seems pretty fair bans for Smith and Warner. Had it been more than one Warner's career was over.

Still could be the end anyway, he created a bad name for himself and it's hard to tarnish that image. Smith can still gain a bit of leniency and forgiveness but I'm sure he'll come back strong breaking records again.

Considering the they miss IPL where they make millions it's a fair ban. Missing international cricket for a year and big T20 leagues is sure to hurt them financially as well.

Agree with Vaughan, a bit harsh with Bancroft but that's what you get if you don't stand up and say that the ball tampering was wrong. He should've taken initiative and blatantly said no. Huge mistake, but young guys like him will make mistakes like that. He still should've known better.

Still very disappointed with the Lehmann call. There was CLEARLY something going on with him giving instructions to the field and he would've known likely what was going on in that dressing room and what was going on at lunch. Unbelievable that CA decided to save his a** before anyone else.

 

[Satan666]

What the heck

Banning them from playing in IPL, BBL is just too harsh tbh.

Yup. Hope they offer support/couselling to these guys.

At the end of the day they commited a disgraceful act but still have families to support. Dont want to see another Chris Cairns situation at all.

 

[SaiSrini]

Not really fussed what anyone to do with India thinks. They think they run the game. Think it's because you are butt hurt you didn't actually invent the game.

Ok there you go on my ignore list, Mr. RichieCunnigham! I had the suspicion that you might be a troll but this confirms it! Rant away to glory!

 

[SaiSrini]

Good decision from Cricket Australia to punish them with 1 year and 9 month (for Bancroft) bans. And I know some trolls have been crying hoarse that other country players have not been meted out similarly harsh treatments during their ball tampering controversies, but the nature of this offence is far more serious. These guys (Smith, Warner, Bancroft) are not being punished for ball-tampering per se. They are being punished for 'orchestrating a coordinated effort to compromise the integrity of the game' which amounts of intentional and purposeful cheating.

All the other players were charged purely for ball tampering (most of them spur of the moment and quite a few of them unintentional). And let me tell you this - non Australian people enjoy watching Australian players as much and have no personal vendetta against the players. With leagues like IPL, PSL, BBL, etc., the bonhomie has only increased and other country fans enjoy watching Australian players (e.g. I rooted for Steve Smith last year when he captained Rising Pune Supergiants; I used to enjoy Warner's batting a few years back, though I fell out in favor of him due to his ridiculously misplaced aggression on the field and off it). If it was Virat Kohli in Smith or Warner's place, I would have wanted a 2 year ban or even serious on him (ask members here in PC and they will tell you about my hate-like fandom relationship with Kohli).

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

So by the reaction of all the ex, current players, they want a fair trial for Bancroft and Smith who they think are made the scapegoat by the management where Lehmaan was saved. Warner has fallen out of everyones respect and they do not care a crap about him. Serves Warner right. I am pretty sure this ban will be appealed and overturned but CA did the right thing here and set a fine line that if you cross you will be punished. Not many boards would have banned their superstar captain and vicecaptain from the side. Credit where due and good job CA.

 

[SaiSrini]

"What the f*** is going on?"

These were the words that distanced Australia's coach Darren Lehmann from the ball-tampering plot hatched by David Warner and Cameron Bancroft with the approval of Steven Smith. Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has said this was the message Lehmann relayed to Bancroft via 12th man Peter Handscomb, whom he spoke to on a walkie talkie.

Lehmann offered this version of events to the CA head of integrity Iain Roy when interviewed at the team hotel in Cape Town on Monday, and it was accepted with the help of corroborating witnesses. Sutherland said this explained Lehmann's absence from the charge sheet released by CA on Wednesday, which handed bans to Warner, Bancroft and Smith.

"It is understood and it has been verified by others that on the walkie-talkie he said... you guys probably saw it, the first time anyone knew about it was when it came up on the vision screen," Sutherland said in Johannesburg. "He saw that and he radioed down and he said 'what the f*** is going on?' He said to Handscomb: 'Find out what the f*** is going on'.

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22941664/six-words-put-darren-lehmann-clear

Lehmann escaped by saying he said "What the hell is going on?" to Handscomb when he was caught on screen communicating via walkie talkie. This does not corroborate with Lehmann's image. Lehmann is a guy who egged Australian public to pour vitriol on Stuart Broad during the Ashes. Why would the chief conspirators (Warner, Smith) not bring in a guy like Lehmann into the picture on a plan like this when Lehmann has shown all signs of playing outside the line, is a very puzzling thought.

Turning his attention to Smith, Warner and Bancroft, Sutherland agreed that their charges and hefty punishments had more to do with the outrage their actions had caused than the specifics of ball tampering itself. "They haven't been charged by Cricket Australia for ball tampering," he said. "It's something that's important to remind people that the code is worth reading, those four dot points, that's what they've been charged for.

"That's the significance. It relates to contrary to the spirit of the game, it relates to denigrating the game or having an impact on the reputation and image of the game, causing damage to the game, all of those things have quite clearly happened in a short space of time as a result of those actions. That's what the report is for and the sanctions are on that basis."

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/22941664/six-words-put-darren-lehmann-clear

This statement proves what I said earlier today, that the players are not charged for ball tampering per se, but for bringing the spirit and integrity of the game down and causing damage to the game through their actions. So for all those who found it easy to pull Afridi, Tendulkar, Du Plessis, etc and why they were not charged similarly, there goes your own cricket board's CEO shutting your mouth.

Also I dont agree with certain non-Aussie posters here who said other boards wouldn't have handed similar punishments like what the CA did. I am sure boards like BCCI, ECB, CSA, etc. would have cracked down as hard (if not harder) on such things as the CA.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Also I dont agree with certain non-Aussie posters here who said other boards wouldn't have handed similar punishments like what the CA did. I am sure boards like BCCI, ECB, CSA, etc. would have cracked down as hard (if not harder) on such things as the CA.

If you mean me, though I would want all the boards to be strict on player behaviors, CA acted on pressure. If there was no pressure and say this happened in a game vs Zimbabwe with little to no
coverage would the outcry be the same? I am not sure, may or may not be. All I am saying is if boards act tough the game remains in good standing but there is a big if..

Again they will appeal and the ban will be removed once the outcry or media attention is done with. Although Warner’s behavior depletes with every passing series and has to be controlled more. Also Smith once he returns should stop with brain fades and excuses, be aggressive but do not cross the line. Stop cheating.

 

[ParkedTheBus]

They do not care about results at this point. The image of Australian cricket is more important than two blokes that concocted a plan to cheat. The government and public care more of the Spirit of Australian sport than two, even if best, players right now.

We'll come back to this when Australia lose at home to India and collapse in every game. Image is vital but sometimes you have to be pragmatic. CA have failed to be here. If they had managed to drag this out for maybe another couple weeks, they would've reduced the severity (the public and media have short memories). Ultimately, on-pitch results bring in revenue and new fans. I absolutely support punishing both of them for a grave mistake (not an error) but come on man, a 12 month ban is utterly ridiculous.

 

[Bigby Wolf]

This is lit AF!

 

[Satan666]

We'll come back to this when Australia lose at home to India and collapse in every game. Image is vital but sometimes you have to be pragmatic. CA have failed to be here. If they had managed to drag this out for maybe another couple weeks, they would've reduced the severity (the public and media have short memories). Ultimately, on-pitch results bring in revenue and new fans. I absolutely support punishing both of them for a grave mistake (not an error) but come on man, a 12 month ban is utterly ridiculous.

Just thinking of an Indian test series victory down under got me upset.

 

[Yash.]

Mark my words...

Aussie batting in Tests is now doomed!

 

[LiveLoveABD]

This is lit AF!

That is hilarious!

 

[stefan]

Harsh on steve, bancroft got what he deserved and warner should have gotten more.

 

[Gurjot95]

I fail to believe this "leadership group" only contains Smith and Warner. If it did, Smith should have said him and Warner orchestrated the plan during press conference but Smith kept repeating that leadership group knew about it. This all seems little fishy here. Either CA is trying to protect others who were involved or Smith/Warner are taking the hammer on themselves because of them being the obvious choice. As others have mentioned, there is no way Lehman wasn't involved in this.