Over the weekend in South Africa, we witnessed the culmination of one of Test cricket’s great rivalries cross an invisible line for which there is no recourse, no way to come back from.
Trailing an imposing Proteas outfit in challenging bowling conditions, the Australian team resorted to the lowest level of sportsmanship imaginable – cheating.
As a nation we pride ourselves on being tough but fair, a motto not only taught to our children, but etched into our national psyche, worn as a badge of pride since before most of us were born.
All the things that happened in world cricket in the last 30 years, including issues with Zimbabwe, South Africa and Pakistan, pale in comparison to Cameron Bancroft’s use of tape and pitch granules to change the condition of the ball.
The cricket world has predictably reacted with shock and outrage at Australia’s pre-meditated attempt to cheat against South Africa.
Captain Steve Smith fronted the press after the day’s play with Bancroft already cited for ball tampering in the second session of play, caught shoving the tape down his pants on television.
Former captain Michael Clarke certainly channelled the feelings of most Australian cricket fans.
In an extraordinary end-of-play press conference, Bancroft admitted to tampering with the ball to have it replaced, and Smith revealed that the idea was in fact his and the team’s leadership group.
Bancroft has since been charged by the match referee, fined 75 per cent of his match fee and given three demerit points, however he’s avoided a one-Test suspension.
Steve Smith has been suspended for the next Test by the ICC, but could yet face sanction from Cricket Australia. And despite stepping down from the captaincy for the last day of the third Test, he initially refused to resign as captain.
“I won’t be considering stepping down. I still think I’m the right person for the job,” he said.
“Today was a big mistake on my behalf and on the leadership group’s behalf as well.
“I take responsibility as the captain. I need to take control of the ship.
“I’m incredibly sorry for trying to bring the game into disrepute the way we did.
“This is certainly something I’m not proud of and something that I can hope to learn from and come back strong from.”
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Perhaps the most incredulous aspect of this whole affair is the complicit nature of the team, leadership group and coaches for not only condoning it, but encouraging. Worse still is the fact that the newest member of the team became the patsy.
I don’t know how on earth Smith can’t see what’s entirely wrong with what he did. Despite the fact that the 28-year-old has a near flawless record, he went on to say that he would feel “bad” if he wasn’t caught.
“If we weren’t caught I’d still feel incredibly bad about it … it’s a big error in judgment,” he said.
“It was a poor choice and deeply regrettable.
“I can promise you it won’t happen again.”
The four-Test tour of South Africa has been marred by a number of spiteful and ugly controversies, but none of what’s gone on before gives any excuse for what was done on Day 3.
“The Australian camp has been lecturing people lately on how the game should be played and a line that shouldn’t be crossed,” former England captain Nasser Hussain told Sky Sports.
“Some of the stuff that has come out of the Australian camp, especially, has been laughable.”
Retired Test batsman Kevin Pietersen and injured pace bowler Dale Steyn weighed in and said that nothing is ever done without the consent of the captain and coach.
“This will be Darren Lehmann’s greatest test as a coach, cos (sic) I will struggle to believe that this was all Bancroft’s idea,” Pietersen posted on Twitter.
“Nothing in professional sport is done without the consent of your captain and coach,” Dale Steyn said.
The fall of Smith will be sharp and sudden. Once one of the most respected members not only of the Australian cricket team, but international Test cricket, there’s no way that he can recover from this controversy.
Given match television footage suggested communication between Lehmann and 12th man Handscomb, who then relayed the message to Bancroft, its inconceivable that Lehmann, the coaches and senior leadership didn’t know about the plan.
There’s no way that Lehmann and Smith should survive this ordeal. If anything, the team should be changed significantly ahead of the fourth Test.
For a cricketer whose career has been built on the foundations of deep admiration and respect, intentional and orchestrated cheating has all but eroded it, and left him clinging to not just the captaincy, but the team like Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic.
Justin Mitchell
Roar Guru
It's related but a bit different. Match fixing is indeed cheating, but it's also illegal, therefore a prosecutable and jail-able offence. Ball tampering itself usually isn't that big of a deal but it usually leaves a bit of an asterisks against a players career (Faf). But orchestrated, organised and planned cheating, lead by the captain and vice-captain? That's pretty bad, that's right up there with some of the worst sportsmanship on the international stage.
Justin Mitchell
Roar Guru
That's been played with gusto, grace and great test cricket spirit. NZ barely won it and I doubt they gave their English counterparts the absurd send offs and slagged their missus' off.
Uk_Ozpat
Guest
It is a modern day disgrace. It's been a long, long time since an event has dragged cricket through the gutter in the way this has! I only hope the great series currently being played in NZ helps put the game in a better light
DavSA
Guest
"the South Africans are mercenaries these days, its necessary to perform to get the big money making opportunities, so Faf is willing to do whatever it takes to win , networking is important with the big three. " When last I checked it is called Professional Cricket for a reason . It is a profession and it is perfectly understandable for a player to want to maximise their income.
DavSA
Guest
Yes the historic rivalry did cross a line in what is now degenerating as a farcical series. But this rivalry has a rich history and strong foundations and will survive .
Linphoma
Guest
I can only look at this in total isolation, in accordance with my beliefs and the way I have played the game and believe the game should be conducted. Somebody else's bad behaviour does not excuse mine, even as retaliation. What we have been seeing across these three matches has been poor and I'm not talking about the actual game play which has been stirring stuff.
Ouch
Guest
"All the things that happened in world cricket in the last 30 years, including issues with Zimbabwe, South Africa and Pakistan, pale in comparison to Cameron Bancroft’s use of tape and pitch granules to change the condition of the ball." All the things? So the people who actually broke the law when they tfixed matches for money (and sent to prison for it) pales in comparison to tampering with the ball? Nothing like some way over the top hyperbole to start the week with.
BrainsTrust
Guest
Its not a rivarly, the South Africans are mercenaries these days, its necessary to perform to get the big money making opportunities, so Faf is willing to do whatever it takes to win , networking is important with the big three. Faf you don't see him crawling all over the Australians in the media depsite the events because he knows the future pay checks are connected with the big three adn Smith is one of the IPL captains. Big mouth Lehman doesn't go after the Indians because he knows the big junket is an IPL coaching position. All the stuff recently on Lehman going on about the behaviour is just propaganda to get Rabada suspended. WHy is he doing all this stuff now when previously he couldn't care less.