Australia tour of South Africa 2018

[Dutch]

Been waiting for a statement from him. Possibly waiting after the completion on this test. I expect him to step down though, either he knew or he is not in control of the team.

Exactly; and thus in both scenario’s not doing the job he is supposed to do; the backlash to this in aussie is huge....this is going to spiral

 

[Llewelynf]

I think it's good that he told the truth. That's the only, tiny good thing he's done in this whole saga.

You believe he has been completely honest? I think he only did it because it was so obvious. He was not completely forthright imo

 

[silentuk]

Are we supposed to believe they haven't done this before? All through the Ashes and the first two tests of this series the Aussies were great at getting the ball to reverse. Why would they suddenly decide in the middle of this match that they needed to do something different to get it to reverse this time?

I didn't buy Smith's mealy mouthed apology. He definitely feels bad he's been caught but if he felt that bad about it he wouldn't have done it in the first place. And what really stinks the place out is what looks to be a group of veteran players/coaches getting the young kid to do the deed. And Lehman didn't know? Give us a bit of credit. If I was a senior player who wasn't involved I'd be spitting feathers at the 'leadership group' comment as it makes everyone look bad.

 

[aditya123]

I won't add more to the tampering saga since most of it has brrn already said before. It was a brilliant series till now, much like the Ind-SA tests and has been brilliant viewing. This has soured it all for me. The game has looked so flat today.

Coming back to the cricket, the Aussies seem to have had more trouble getting 20 SA wickets that India did during their series. The way SA batted against India, I expected the likes of Starc to run through more often. Is it just that the wickets have been better to bat on? Also, even the Aussie batting looks quite weak if Smith doesnt score big.

 

[asprin]

So 1 match ban for Smith and demerit points for Bancroft. Too lenient I would say but then again the ICC are only going by what's written in the rule book.

What about the "leadership group" then?

 

[Saeglopur]

I suspect it will be CA and the Australian public who dish out the real punishment to be honest. A lot of damage has already been done to their reputations too. It will be interesting to see what happens now as well though...

Are we supposed to believe they haven't done this before? All through the Ashes and the first two tests of this series the Aussies were great at getting the ball to reverse. Why would they suddenly decide in the middle of this match that they needed to do something different to get it to reverse this time?

Broad said much the same earlier. They're going to be under even more scrutiny in future, that's for sure, and obviously Smith potentially implicated half of the team...

 

[Satan666]

Pitch looks pretty awsome still. Australia can knock this off, certainly not improbable to get those runs. Theyre up against a superb bowling unit though but what a story if Smith/Bangerz score a century to win!

 

[Dutch]

I suspect it will be CA and the Australian public who dish out the real punishment to be honest. A lot of damage has already been done to their reputations too. It will be interesting to see what happens now as well though...



Broad said much the same earlier. They're going to be under even more scrutiny in future, that's for sure, and obviously Smith potentially implicated half of the team...

Yeah the Australian arrogance is the one thing that will spit in their own faces now......its no so much that they cheated but they felt they needed to cheat which will bite them hardest I think as far as public perception is concerned....

 

[CerealKiller]

Interesting that Paine is captain. Were the Marsh brothers and Khawaja involved as well? Theoretically they're ahead of Paine in the pecking ordee

 

[Dutch]

Interesting that Paine is captain. Were the Marsh brothers and Khawaja involved as well? Theoretically they're ahead of Paine in the pecking ordee

I think Paine is a neutral choice at this mo.....has just come back into the side and will be seen as relatively clean......would be interesting to see whether it is just cosmetic or Smith and Warner are chipping in regardless

 

[Satan666]

Well there goes Bangerz! Think it gonna be the last time we say him with the Baggy Green!

 

[Llewelynf]

Well there goes Bangerz! Think it gonna be the last time we say him with the Baggy Green!

Unfortunate that he was put and that situation but he is a grown ass man and could have said no. Pity, he looked so good in the first dig and looked like he had what it takes.

 

[asprin]

Well there goes Bangerz! Think it gonna be the last time we say him with the Baggy Green!

I would be highly surprised if that happens. He may be asked to stay away for a couple of series but I don't think it's a career-ending thing.

 

[Satan666]

I would be highly surprised if that happens. He may be asked to stay away for a couple of series but I don't think it's a career-ending thing.

First time seeing him play in this series, still to judge him live on the pitch but from the tv set cant say I see anything special from him at all. Surely there are better batsmen in Australia.[DOUBLEPOST=1521987376][/DOUBLEPOST]Well time for Smith to blaze a match winning century with the fall of Warner. Fourth time for the series Rabada has gotten the Thug out!

 

[Satan666]

Unfortunate that he was put and that situation but he is a grown ass man and could have said no. Pity, he looked so good in the first dig and looked like he had what it takes.

Agreed he is 25 years old shouldve known better.