The evidence is damning. And the repercussions should be severe.
What Cameron Bancroft appeared to do while looking to condition the ball on day three at Newlands is contrary to the spirit of cricket.
Equally so is the way there appeared to be an orchestrated cover up after the offending vision was seen in the player’s viewing area.
The vision as it played out on the television coverage alluded to the 12th man, Peter Handscomb being instructed by walkie-talkie to go onto the field and speak to Bancroft, who shortly after took a suspicious item from his pocket and placed it down the front of his creams.
If that is indeed the case, it points to a premeditated act and not merely the actions of one man.
The Australian cricket team has always pushed the envelope with regard to its on field verbal barbs – and at times have been proved to go beyond what is viewed as being acceptable banter – but, equally, they have always held themselves up as still playing the game within its intended spirit.
That premise has long been questioned with respect to the verbal attacks on opponents.
The actions of Bancroft go well beyond any verbal sparring.
It smacks of outright cheating and the prima facie evidence is damning.
It will cast a black cloud over Australian cricket and it deserves to be the case.
How the ICC deals with this episode will be fascinating.
Ball tampering, under the code of behaviour, is deemed to be a level two offence which carries with it four demerit points – which if accumulated in a 24-month period equates to a one Test suspension – and up to a 100 per cent match fee fine.
One can imagine there will be a significant outcry if that is the resultant penalty.
(AP Photo/Halden Krog)
What is more challenging for the ICC is how it will react to what seems to be a plan that was sanctioned by team management.
What action should be taken against the Australian captain and coach?
The way things played out it would appear that there needs to be some penalty that goes beyond Bancroft alone.
It was interesting to see skipper, Steve Smith leave the ground for a period of time in the final session.
It may well have been a ploy to try and get a uniform response in place prior to facing the media after the day’s play.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
This event will certainly have an impact on the way the fans view this Australian team.
It is no secret that in places like the sub-continent the Australian team is respected for its ability but vilified for its behaviour.
This series has further enhanced the open hostility that has often been present in Australia-South Africa series.
But, for Cricket Australia, the bigger issue is how their own fans will react to this episode.
Many have become disenfranchised with the side’s on-field verbal barrages.
Many voiced that opinion on social media after the opening Test of the series.
The action involving Bancroft will likely have a far bigger affect than any verbal slinging match has as far as fan perception goes.
The question that many will be asking is just how long such practices having been going on for.
Fans rejoiced at the devastating reverse swing bowling of Mitchell Starc that catapulted Australia to a one-nil lead after the Durban Test.
Now, many will be questioning if all was as it appeared.
Already, social media has included many posts stating that “all teams do it”.
Sorry, but that is simply speculation.
Like all things in life, people can only be penalised when there is solid evidence.
With respect to what happened in the middle session at Cape Town, the evidence is there for all to see.
And the Australian cricket team will have to face the consequences as a result.
And many will not be disappointed at that prospect.
W G GRACE
Guest
Come on Mike your country was built by convict graft and no use pretending otherwise - it will be interesting to see what new songs the Barmy Army has install for when you play for the Ashes in England in 2019 - no Smith/Warner/Bancroft either and Lehmann whose just re-signed. Sandpaper Sandpaper whose got the Sandpaper - Warner hasn't and Smithy hasn't but Bancroft has cause he shoved down his pants- The Aussies went to South Africa with not much hope of a win- till Warner found some sandpaper in the bottom of the bin. He took the plan to Smithy who took it in his stride until the TV cameras caught then red handed and there was no where left to hide.
Barry Richards
Guest
Old Eagle jack supports a club that cheated the cap to the tune of 750k - mmm any comment Eagle jack as your all high and mighty on the cricketing 3 but silent on any ban for your sea eagles- Come on
Barry Richards
Guest
So you are 100% sure and certain that Tendulkar/Atherton and twice Du Plessis ball tampered without anyone else knowing what their plans were - big call I suggest- Interesting to note neither of their cricket boards discussed banning any of these players - Imagine the uproar in India if Tendulkar was banned - Their Government would step in sack the board and take over cricket and reinstate him.
Barry Richards
Guest
It is in tatters as it caved into the gutter press and pc lefty lynch mobsters - Tendulkar fined for ball tampering would never ever ever be banned by his cricket board nor would du Plessis a twice offender in ball tampering. Smith/Warner/Bancroft need to appeal this unjust and harsh ban.
W G GRACE
Guest
Of course Ken would have been caught speeding or for some other offence- but to him that's okay I assume - the three players broke one of the laws in cricket a very minor one according to the ICC Code of conduct - A Level 2 one Level 2 Changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3. Level 2: Fine of 50% to 100% of match fee and/or ban for 1 Test or 2 ODIs. If a speeding offence -Ken should be banned from driving for 12 months in that case - broke one of the laws of the road - should have the same ban.
W G GRACE
Guest
Your team !!! when do you ever play for you convict colonial side ??
Superba
Guest
This has nothing to do with the du Plessis mintgate incident .Or dare I say it the Hansie Cronje affair .It has nothing to do with South Africa except that it was SA who caught Bancroft red handed. Afrikaans commentator Fanie de Villiers got suspicious about the reverse swing the Aussies were getting .A camera was arranged to follow and fixate on Warner and Bancroft and he was caught in the act . Australia must be judged , and is being judged by the standards they espouse ." We play hard but fair .We don t cheat " .And of course Warner had a lot to say at the time on mintgate . Now he and Smith are being judged by their own standards and found wanting. Cricket has a unique and iconic place in Australian culture .And this is the heart at which this cheating has struck .It attacks Australian integrity, ethics and decency. It is correct that Australia be judged by their own standards , those that they hold dear and espouse.
ken gargett
Guest
we are not far apart. you are correct. neither. but merely because i am not supporting one side surely does not mean i can't watch it. do you only watch sport which has your side in it? say the rugby world cup is the all blacks v the french, as an example. i can't watch it because australia is not in it? i flew across to nz last year for a lions test because it was great rugby. i've been to lords to watch england in a test - my timing meant it was not against us unfortunately - but loved the experience. it is possible to watch sport for the sheer pleasure of it. i can live with smith in the side, hopefully after a severe suspension, but not as captain. all the best to you.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
By the same comprehension skills of said 4 year old, you should be able to discern the thrust of my argument. Let me pose a conundrum for you: when Smith-led Australia play against a du Plessis-led Sth Africa, who do you support? du Plessis has also been found guilty of cheating. By your response, I'm led to believe neither... Better watch a different sport. I don't want Australia led by a cheat anymore than you, but to be fair, I've never been a fan of Smith as captain anyway. I can't argue my points anymore, my phone is hopeless for long comments, damn thing keeps freezing and changing random words... All the best.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
You are allowed to be inclined wherever you damn well please, this is an opinion site after all!
Raewyn Small
Guest
He (Ken) is allowed his comment, just as you are. I am more inclined to go with his comments, than yours. This team is our representative team for AUSTRALIA and an utter dusgrace!
qwetzen
Guest
It may be "unlikely" but everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Note: I'm no Boof fan, it's the principle of the thing.
ken gargett
Guest
i'm hoping this will find its way into the queue in the appropriate place - our other friend with the clever name, to which this is a reply, was not afforded a reply link. it is, of course, an extraordinary leap and surely you know it. if i suggest i am not supporting our team because it is led by a cheat then i think your average four year old would grasp the concept. i am not likely to support any team led by a cheat. and yet you've turned this into me suggesting the rest of the world is clean. then you say that i have tarred the entire team with the same brush. the most simple exercise in comprehension should tell that same four year old that i have done no such thing. in fact, i have done the opposite. i have noted the single circumstance of smith leading the team. no other. but while we are on confusion, let's look at your first post - "You are a sad representative of Australia, Ken. Bancroft & Smith’s actions do not represent the whole Australian team, and certainly not the whole of Australia." so in your view, smith and bancroft are not representatives of australia. and yet you declare that i am. really? not sure what i did to deserve that. you perhaps need to think a little more before posting.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
No extraordinary leap, Ken. When you said "if he ever captains australia again, i will actively support the opposition". You're basically saying that the opposition must be squeaky clean, and that you'll support them because you've tarred the whole Australian Team with the same brush as Smith & Co.
Internal Fixation
Guest
Another sensible comment all the way at the end!
664 neighbour of the beast
Guest
Mate, you would have been ripping india apart when they make a mistake..be honest! And now they are ripping us apart because we look like the idiots..get a grip and get over the patriotism excuse..its weak right now and makes you look out of touch. Just read the comments from your own country and yes...stop playing the victim.
Republican
Guest
........oh the pious Kiwi collective will be salivating over this........
Republican
Guest
...........there is no virtue in sport today, with or without Smith. We are a symbiosis of a win at all cost culture as 'consumers', dictated to by a multi national television behemoth that owns our sporting DNA across the globe. Our Pontius Pilot governing bodies are simply that, so enough of the sanctimony and righteousness. You either continue to support the oxymoron i.e. is 'sport' at this tier or like myself, you choose another path, boycotting the commoditisation of sport altogether.........
ken gargett
Guest
to Rebellion, i agree with what you are saying with one small exception - the underarm had nothing to do with desperation. there was no way nz were winning that game. it was a silly and unnecessary act (and the best gift we ever gave the kiwis - a reason to drag themselves out of their 50s stupor and berate us on an almost daily basis, if one wants to look at the more frivolous aspect of it). but hardly one born from desperation.
joe
Guest
Well said. The way I feel now is that I never want to see any of them again, neither in person nor on TV.