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Bancroft must be suspended if guilty of ball tampering

24th March, 2018
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Cameron Bancroft of Australia on the pitch during the third day of the third cricket test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands Stadium, in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, March 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
Expert
24th March, 2018
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The third Test in South Africa was plunged into controversy last night when Australian Cameron Bancroft was caught in what appeared to be a case of ball tampering.

As Australia tried to bowl themselves back into the match, with the Proteas well in control, footage emerged of Bancroft producing from his pants a small yellow object which he then seemed to rub on the ball.

The obvious implication of Bancroft’s actions was that he was trying to rough up one side of the ball to aid the Australian quicks in gaining reverse swing.

Bancroft was spoken to by the umpires after this incident in the final session yesterday and did not produce the yellow object, instead showing them a black cloth sunglasses bag.

His actions were questioned by several TV commentators, with former Australian captain Allan Border describing it as “very suspicious” and former SA skipper Graeme Smith saying he believed Bancroft had “tampered with the ball”.

Bancroft could be suspended from the fourth Test in Johannesburg if he is found guilty of ball tampering, which looks very possible based on the footage.

(AP Photo/Halden Krog)

A media firestorm will rage around this incident for days to come and it could greatly tarnish the reputation of not just Bancroft but of the Australian team. It also has the potential to derail his young career.

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Bancroft surely must be suspended if found guilty of a blatant breach of the ICC code of conduct. If he is the suspended there would be no guarantee he would come straight back into the Australian XI once that suspension was served.

Yet Bancroft would be a scapegoat if all this came to pass. Undoubtedly he is responsible for his own actions, but it seems unlikely an international player would tamper with the ball without the consent of their captain and coach.

If Bancroft was indeed ball tampering in such a premeditated fashion it would seem probable the entire Australian team and coaching staff would be aware of the tactic.

Australian captain Steve Smith and coach Darren Lehmann could have a lot of explaining to do. One can only hope they will not hang Bancroft out to dry if he is found guilty.

The 25-year-old is going to carry a huge burden over this incident, particularly if he’s banned. Ball tampering is an inexcusable action and one which brings the game of cricket into disrepute.

It is gobsmacking that a team would even consider taking such a huge risk given the enormous media scrutiny on this Test series, which has already been marred by a series of controversies.

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The Australians are familiar with the maelstrom that accompanies ball tampering episodes having watched as their media went after Proteas captain Faf du Plessis when he was found guilty of this offence during the last series between the teams in 2016.

Du Plessis was caught on camera very obviously rubbing his finger on to a mint in his mouth and then wiping that same finger on the ball. That was the second time the South African was punished by the ICC for such behaviour, having been fined in 2013 for rubbing a ball on his pant zipper during a Test against Pakistan.

Proteas seamer Vernon Philander was also found guilty of ball tampering the following year after he was caught scratching a ball during a match in Sri Lanka.

This looks set to be the first time that a member of the current Australian team will be charged with ball tampering. That would be an unsightly stain on what has been a high quality and very engaging series between two fierce foes.

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