Wednesday 24 / April / 2024
Melbourne: Australia's Steve Smith has been given a one-match suspension and fined 100 percent of his match fee for his part in ball-tampering incident during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Sunday.
Smith, who stepped down from the captaincy earlier on Sunday, had accepted the charge, cricket's global governing body said in a statement.
"The decision made by the leadership group of the Australian team to act in this way is clearly contrary to the spirit of the game, risks causing significant damage to the integrity of the match, the players and the sport itself and is therefore ‘serious’ in nature," ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said.
"As captain, Steve Smith must take full responsibility for the actions of his players and it is appropriate that he be suspended."
Australia opener Cameron Bancroft has been fined 75 percent of his match fee and handed three demerit points after he was caught on camera tampering with the ball on day three of the Test.
Reaction after Australia captain Steve Smith confessed that the team's "leadership group" had hatched a plan to alter the condition of the ball during the third day of the third Test against South Africa.
MALCOLM TURNBULL, Prime Minister of Australia
"Shocked and bitterly disappointed by the news from South Africa. It seemed completely beyond belief that the Australian cricket team had been involved in cheating. Our cricketers are role models and cricket is synonymous with fair play. How can our team be engaged in cheating like this? It beggars belief."
JAMES SUTHERLAND, Cricket Australia chief
"To our Australian cricket fans. We are sorry. We are sorry that you had to wake up this morning to the news ... that our Australian men's cricket team and our captain admitted to conduct that is outside both the laws of our game and spirit of cricket.
"This behaviour calls into question the integrity of the team and Cricket Australia... we share your anger and disappointment.
"Cricket Australia and Australian cricket fans expect certain standards of conduct from cricketers representing our country, and on this occasion these standards have not been met."
DAVID RICHARDSON, International Cricket Council chief executive
"The decision made by the leadership group of the Australian team to act in this way is clearly contrary to the spirit of the game, risks causing significant damage to the integrity of the match, the players and the sport itself and is therefore ‘serious’ in nature."
MICHAEL CLARKE, former Australia captain
"It's a terrible day for Australian cricket. I can't believe the leadership group have got a young kid playing in his eighth tTst match to do this."
ADAM GILCHRIST, former Australia wicketkeeper
"Australian cricket is the laughing stock of the sporting world."
SHANE WARNE, former Australia spinner
"Disappointed in Steve Smith as captain to go out there and do that. To me it was unAustralian. I don't care who you are you can't tamper with the ball."
OTTIS GIBSON, South Africa coach
"I'm shocked at what's gone on. I've never seen anything as blatant as that."
SHAUN POLLOCK, former South Africa paceman
"It was pre-meditated and they've been caught. They have been shown to cheat."
GRAEME SMITH, former South Africa captain
"You've got to ask some tough questions of Steve Smith and (Australia coach) Darren Lehmann. They’ve obviously driven this process, they’re the leadership."
DALE STEYN, South Africa paceman
"Nothing in professional sport is done without the consent of your captain and coach."
KEVIN PIETERSEN, former England batsman
"The leaderships groups jobs (sic) are untenable. They've disgraced a great cricketing nation & Test cricket."
MICHAEL ATHERTON, former England captain
"They are in crisis. This certainly will not be the end of it. There will be consequences for senior members of the team."
BOB WILLIS, former England paceman
"I would be very surprised if everyone in the dressing room didn't know what was going on. They were so naive to get caught."
MICHAEL VAUGHAN, former England captain
"Disgraceful behaviour by senior pros."
STUART BROAD, England paceman
"Steve has come out and said it's the first time they've ever tried it and we have to believe his words."
MOHAMMAD KAIF, former India batsman
"Oh no! Bancroft. Very embarrassing. From the looks of it, this is not on. Haven't seen a series marred by controversies like this one in a long long time."
