A disgusted Simon Katich believes Cricket Australia (CA) has “no option” but to sack skipper Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and coach Darren Lehmann for allowing ball-tampering to occur.
Former Test batsman Katich said he was “sick to his stomach” when he woke up to the news from South Africa on Sunday morning.
Smith said he would not consider standing down despite admitting it was an orchestrated plan and CA CEO James Sutherland indicated the governing body needed to “gather relevant information” before making any calls on the future of those involved.
Speaking before Sutherland’s press conference, Katich – who played 56 Tests for Australia between 2001 and 2010 – said they had to act faster.
“I think when Cricket Australia front the media, they’ve got no option but to stand and then sack Smith, Warner and Lehmann,” Katich said on SEN Radio.
“They’ve got no option because this was premeditated and calculated at the break and those guys are in charge of Cameron Bancroft behaving the way he did.
“It’s a bigger problem than that, he’s been instructed to do this and anyone in cricket knows the captain and coach are in control of what happens in the team.
“I love Steve Smith… but unfortunately he’s made a serious error and I think it’s going to cost him the captaincy of Australia.
“If CA come out of this and condone sledging, they condone blatant cheating, then the message they send to the thousands of kids that they want to aspire to wear the baggy green is a far worse message than a few guys losing their jobs.”
Smith denied Lehmann had any role to play in the incident but Katich doubted that was true.
“The footage I’ve seen with Darren Lehmann on the walkie-talkie to Peter Handscomb down on the boundary line trying to get a warning out to Cameron Bancroft that they were all over him… that to me indicates that he was clearly aware of what was going on,” Katich said.
“I just can’t believe the Test series has gone down to this level now.
“I think back to when I was a kid and I had a poster up in my bedroom that I’d been given by my grandfather.
“It said ‘It matters not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game’.
“I can’t help but think that that has been forgotten in this whole situation.”
RogerTA
Roar Rookie
I thought you'd at least go with the "theroar solving climate change by generating electricity from all the hot air being blown" tack ?
rebel
Guest
james altough I am happy for the players to cop the same penalties as any other player in the world, I must say that I am impressed at the genuine outrage a majority of Aus cricket fans are displaying over this.
Jake
Guest
He's got nothing else to crow about and he's gotta fill that gob with something. It's not as if he can extol the prowess of the english rugby or cricket teams. Poor bloke is now relying on the english football team to give the poms some sporting succor........and we all know how that will turn out.
Jameswm
Guest
You claim to be part Aussie. That part of you should be disgusted. It’s a black day for Aussie cricket and time to expect higher standards.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Turn that frown upside down champ.
AJ
Guest
Just bizarre. What on earth were they thinking? Did they seriously think this was going to go undetected? There must be some be some very clouded minds over there.
Jameswm
Guest
Geez all that effort to find humour and you still failed abysmally. You must be licking your chops at the chance to dig the boot into all Aussies over this. Quality stuff.
Jameswm
Guest
Nah I reckon they’re too gutless.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
I hear the Department of Environment and Energy has tabled a plan to level Mount Kosciuszko, as Australia seeks even more dramatic ways to concede higher ground.
Andrew
Guest
You have to respect for Katich. He is the Australian man from legend basically, the one people claim is the true Aussie, he tells Clarke to put team over girlfriend and now this.
Ouch
Guest
Seems everyone is in agreement. I hope CA listens.