Like all Australians, I was horrified to wake up to the news from Cape Town. The Australian captain, Steve Smith, had admitted to cheating.
I’ve always been a huge fan of Smith. He’s a dedicated cricketer. He leads with his bat. He’s committed to doing the best for his country.
He didn’t make a mistake. He had a terrible lapse of judgement – particularly in asking Bancroft, a young member of the team, to do the dirty work.
There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind Smith should be punished. But calls for a lifetime ban, even from the captaincy, are overdone.
In 2016 a player by the name of Faf Du Plessis had a lolly in his mouth, allowing him to shine up the ball. He was found guilty by the ICC of ball tampering but was allowed to play in the next game.
Hashim Amla described the allegations as a “really ridiculous thing”.
Rather than owning up to the problem, South Africa consistently denied it was an issue and ignored the harsh judgement of others.
(Photo by Robert Prezioso – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)
But it wasn’t even his first offence. In 2013, he was found guilty of tampering with the ball by rubbing it against a hidden trouser zip. He did not contest the charge.
Yet two years on, Faf Du Plessis is South Africa’s captain.
I point this out merely to show that this is not the first, nor will it be the last, time a cricketing captain has fallen foul of the ball tampering rules.
We obviously cannot say for certain, but it’s doubtful that Du Plessis, having done this multiple times, was acting alone. Sadly this is all too common in cricket.
One of the tougher parts to swallow is that Smith owned up to pre-meditating the act. We’ll never truly know what happened inside that change room to spark that conversation. But it was wrong, and Smith should be punished.
However, there’s no doubt that others in the cricketing world have been given second chances. So should Bancroft and Smith. They are two talented, dedicated cricketers who have given their all for Australia.
It would be a loss for the game for them to go. And when looking at this dirty saga, we ought to keep things in perspective.
South Africa didn’t lose a class player who made a mistake.
Neither should we.
W G GRACE
Guest
You most likely accept second place too- England never did and should never do - we will regain the Ashes and you will look back at this and blame your CA for this debacle because of these unjust bans - England will win the series 5- 0 as any swing with the Duke ball will have your bumbling b grade batsmen in trouble
W G GRACE
Guest
So Du Plessis didn't cheat in your words where you say the Australian players did - mmm what about Atherton and Tendulkar doing the same as well as countless others- None were banned for 12 months or so - So Marsh and Lillee betting on England to win a test match when England were 500 to 1 (England ended up winning the unwinnable test) and Warne and M Waugh receiving cash for pitch and weather reports are all okay Alan Border admitted they used to lift the middle seams on the cricket ball to enable it to swing and reverse swing - camera's not around in those days I suppose to see that. Offences relating to gambling or match-fixing carry penalties of bans from 12 months to life, and unlimited fines under ICC code of conduct rules. No way what they did deserves such a ban at all and i hope all three appeal as we want to beat your best when we regain the Ashes not a B Side or have you convict colonials making excuses with no Smith or Warner playing.
CA ARE MERKINS
Guest
It is as if this was an Indian side touring Australia they would pull out of the tour for certain if the ICC threatened suspensions under level 2 which this offence sits. CA would keep strum and the ICC would cave in as all know India run the game of Cricket. Wake up the CA has thrown them under the bus for sure and certain for what was a silly thing to do but hardly the crime of the century that it is being made out to be. If someone knew nothing about cricket they would think the players were involved in some sort of serious international crime. Was amazed that this was main headlines all week when the 2 masterminds behind the Storm finance fiasco where many investors loss hundreds of millions only received a 70k fine each. - Something is really wrong here
CA ARE MERKINS
Guest
So you get caught for speeding and deliberately did so and broke the rules and law and could have endangered lives - Why should you then not be banned from driving for 12 months???. Don't see how CA can impose such a penalty when the Governing body says the following for such an offence - bit like being charged in one court and then being tried in another and given a much much lengthy sentence- double jeopardy one can say- All three should appeal and take it all the way too. Under the ICC what the 3 players did was a level 2 offence - they are the governing body 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. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICC_Cricket_Code_of_Conduct
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Well you missed the point there didn't ya? Most of us care not one jot whether Du Plessis or anyone else did it. That is for their board and their fans to worry about. The "whataboutery" refers to using the excuse "what about them, they did it first". It is a classic misdirection and attempt at deflection. To make it clear - most people do not give a pair of mouldy dingo's kidneys what other players have done - what irks us is that the people who claim to represent us broke the rules and are out and out cheats.
Henry
Roar Rookie
It's not may or may not have done. He was charged and convicted by the ICC.
elvis
Guest
A half million dollar loss of income for something that the umpires didn't even consider to be cheating because the ball wasn't altered? Good to see vigilante mob mentality is alive and well in Australia.
Kane
Guest
Well said
Kieran
Guest
So how much was Smith paid to instruct Bancroft to tamper with the ball? Which bookies induced him to take this course of action, and how much did they gain from doing so? Spot-fixing and ball-tampering are not remotely comparable, and to suggest otherwise is foolish.
Kurt
Guest
More whataboutery. I don't give a damn about what a South African player may or may not have done, I care about what Steve Smith has done. Deflection isn't appropriate in this instance.
Paul
Roar Guru
I suggest the best thing for Smith and co to do is, get through the next Test as best they can, whether playing or not, then take a long break from the game. Sure CA can impose sanctions but there's no doubt the public will do that anyway, as will sponsors. All involved need to be given a chance to atone and that chance should start with the next summer of cricket in Australia at the latest. In the meanwhile, these guys need to sort out their own lives and build some resilience because when they come back to play cricket, the spotlight will be fixed on them - unless of course, we have another piece of stupidity on which to become fixated.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
If you're willing to follow a team led by players who willingly and with malice of fore-thought deliberately planned to and then went on to break the rules then that is your opinion. I am not willing to do that. The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
My expectations. 1 Year ban from all formats, including IPL for Smith, Warner and Bancroft Permanent removal of captaincy and VC for Smith and Warner Permanent dismissal of Darren Lehman, and a 1-year ban from coaching.
Pedro
Guest
Perhaps we could ask the 17y/o Pakistani bowler (?Amir) who got 5 years for spot fixing. He was paid peanuts, was pressured by team mates to be involved and had all the experience that his age suggests. Maybe compare this to Smith's deeds rather than Faf and mintgate.
mad mal
Guest
Smith will get some time out, that is all. He won't be captain again though.