Let’s be honest, the fallout from the ball-tampering crisis has nothing to do with ball tampering.
Instead the storm engulfing the sport is the manifestation of decades of poor Australian behaviour on the cricket field – and note that I said decades, not just the current series.
For years and years Australian cricket has engaged in poor sportsmanship that has tarnished the name of one of the greatest teams of any cricketing era and blemished the reputation of a group of cricketers who are essentially pretty decent fellows off the pitch.
No Australian sporting team has embraced the fight for human rights in poor countries like Aussie cricket teams. Steve Waugh has done plenty of work for poverty in India. Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer – just to name a few – have always sought to embrace foreign cultures whenever they travel and have won the hearts of locals in those countries.
Sadly all of that was lost as the arrogance and attitude on the field took over.
Sadly David Warner, Steve Smith and Cam Bancroft have been the fall guys for what has been a build-up of animosity towards the Australian cricket team over years. This time they were caught red-handed and had nowhere to hide.
Like a dam wall cracking, the mocking and criticism flowed thick and fast as fans, players and media from all over the world rubbed their hands with glee and unleashed a torrent of over-the-top and unfair bullying.
(AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
It’s amazing the short memories past Australian players have when remembering their time in the Australian team. Many who have criticised the Aussie team were involved in eras when the behaviour was not much better and occasionally worse.
Steve Waugh – as mentioned before, a thoroughly decent human being – was the leader of the ‘ugly Australian’ mentality on the field, when winning at all costs was the mantra. This attitude was gladly embraced by Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Steve Smith, who all considered it a vital team tactic.
Do we forget what Glenn McGrath was like when he got smashed for four? Shane Warne’s attitude to both opponents and umpires? Ricky Ponting’s need to whinge about everything? Michael Clarke telling opponents parts of their anatomy will be broken? Mitchell Johnson getting physical with opponents? Brad Haddin telling an opponent who was showing good sportsmanship to ‘f*ck off’ and telling everyone how he hated the New Zealand team being friendly at the world cup?
All of these issues were well and truly in the minds of domestic and world cricket as the fallout from the ball-tampering scandal reached an utterly disgraceful level. No-one is denying that Australia cheated, but to bash the life out of three people and make life hell for their loved ones is just not cricket, pun intended.
What is also disappointing is the lengthy bans that have been dished out to Warner, Smith and Bancroft for the past sins of Australian teams. The punishment must fit the crime, not appease the public baying for blood.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
If Australian cricket administrators had an issue with past behaviours, they should have been dealt with at the time, not handed a retrospective ban for bringing the game into disrepute at a later date when in reality they washed their hands of those previous behaviours.
One could argue the repetitive poor behaviours meant the punishment was for multiple offences, but why let only these three cop it over others who were involved in past indiscretions? Warner has been involved in many of the problems in recent years, so perhaps his punishment is the closest to being justifiable, but Bancroft has only been caught this one time. Nine months for a first offence seems excessive.
Smith has been the captain so in effect the buck stops with him in terms of on-field behaviour, but again, if the past behaviours were condoned or at least not punished by cricket administrators, why hit him with 12 months now? Appeasing the public who are embarrassed is not a reason to hand out lengthy suspensions. As various legal experts have come out and said, the punishment must fit the crime, not appease the needs of others.
Darren Lehman has done the right thing and stepped down. He had little choice as his position was untenable. The next question is James Sutherland. I don’t think he should step down, but Cricket Australia need to nip these situations in the bud before they come to a head like the events in Cape Town.
Perhaps behind closed doors the players have been admonished for what has happened, but why don’t Cricket Australia come out and say this publicly rather than making the odd comment asking Australian players to watch their behaviour?
(Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
One thing that has been touched on but not explored enough was that the Aussie team ethos, encouraged by coach Lehman, has always been to go hard and push the boundaries. Warner was always used as the willing lieutenant. For a while he was quiet as former wicketkeeper Matthew Wade was given those duties, but once Wade was dropped from the team, Warner was drafted back into this role.
While no-one told him to go out and orchestrate a plan to cheat, they gave him a licence to go as far as he could. He eventually took it too far. He can partly claim that he is a scapegoat for a broader attitude problem.
The blessing from all of this is that Tim Paine has been appointed the new skipper, who can hold his head up high despite everything that has happened in this entire series. Paine appears to have a fantastic head on his shoulders, and he got things off to a great start by insisting his players shake hands with their opponents prior to the fourth Test.
Perhaps this is the dawn of a new era of Australian cricket. Perhaps we can learn that playing tough and winning doesn’t involve abusive and unsportsmanlike behaviour. Perhaps the line is now clear on what is within the spirit of the game rather than Australian players pushing and dragging it to where it suits them.
The time has come to forgive the Cape Town three and move forward. Let’s hope Smith and Bancroft come back bigger and better. As for Warner, I hope he comes back to play for Australia and show he has learnt his lesson. That could be a vital lesson for future Aussie and world cricketers.
Everyone deserves a chance at redemption, but for now, with Paine leading the way, Aussie cricket is in very good hands.
Janakan
Guest
@Paul, right now that is what Australia need. A nice guy leading them can show the right spirit.
Olivers Wrist
Guest
Don't even bother with Chappelli. I'd like another team. Maybe Afghanistan, Ireland.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
No, it is beyond just that. As has been pointed out by many since this came out, there have been many people caught doing ball tampering, (and sorry, but don't believe for a second that this was the first "pre-meditated" one; they would just about always be pre-meditated, knowing by multiple members of the team, if not all, including the captain) with nobody else copping more than the ICC maximum 1 test match suspension for ball tampering. The ICC handed out their penalty. It was 3 demerit points for Bancroft and 4 (meaning a 1 match suspension) for Smith. That was it. The reason it's blown up so much is because of other issues. Namely, that the Aussies have behaved how they have for years, yet still looked down on other nations, defending themselves as playing hard, but not crossing "the line", sinking the boot in when others get caught doing dodgy things (roll tape of Warner after Du Plessis' mintgate tampering issues a couple of years ago) saying how no matter how hard the Aussies play they would never do anything like that. It means there's a bit of a schadenfreude coming into the picture now, causing the media to blow up, people to go over the top on forums like this, and twitter and all such things, and CA to decide that if they came down ridiculously hard on the players concerned maybe they can help return Australia to a "holier than thou" status again.
Paul
Roar Guru
Gee you're drawing a long bow about Paine being the answer. He's made one very telling gesture and has captained one Test which Australia will be hard pressed to draw. I have no idea what he's like as an on-field tactician, as a motivator of his team and most importantly, as a leader in the change room. Sure he might be a nice guy, but unless he take control of this team and successfully leads it, he's only that - a nice guy.
Janakan
Guest
I don’t know Peeko, the fact it was mentioned speaks volumes
peeko
Guest
this is just heresay, he was in terrible form
peeko
Guest
bad behaviour and cheating is a spurious link. i think it is far too early to see evidence that the reserve tasmanian wicky of 6 months ago is the answer as captain.
Janakan
Guest
Something that was mentioned on the weekend was that peter Neville was dropped from the Aussie team partly because he wasn’t chirpy behind the stumps. Perhaps a sign even the selectors wanted someone willing to have an edge. The argument will be he didn’t provide energy. But come on, it was because he didnt sledge
Janakan
Guest
@John he basically came out and said sledging should be banished. He has supported these three being punished
John
Guest
I have always supported the Australian cricket team and I always will. I haven't always liked every player and haven't always agreed with their approach. Supporting the team is not in my views the same as supporting each individual. This is different. Perhaps I just don't recall but I cannot remember; - two players almost coming to blows in a stairwell - talk of head-butting "lines" - hiding sandpaper down a player's trousers while fielding Call me old fashioned. Yes this has been decades in the making but enough is enough. It starts with the coach, under whom it all seems to have deteriorated. Then it moves to the VC who is just thick. I'm glad to see the back of him. Smith is the captain FFS - he has a duty and a responsibility so I don't have a problem with his ban either. I'm also glad he can return to the game and to leadership if so warranted. Just my opinion - CA has a role in this as well and Sutherland should also resign. What I haven't seen is a comment from Ian Chappell. Have I missed it?
49 aint hot
Guest
Smith and Warner aren't scapegoat for past teams indiscretions that you speak of. They were the leaders of the team who allowed a blatant act of cheating after recent history of their own indiscretions. They both have form for some poor leadership decisions in recent times and may well have their punishment reduced if they appeal. The captain and vice captain are pivotal in maintaining the spirit of the game and both have failed. No one to blame but themselves. Can only hope they don't appeal so the healing for Australian cricket can begin. The scar will be permanent though.
Ex force fan
Guest
Sledging in Cricket is bullying in the workplace, as Ian Chappell pointed out, and therefore does not belong in sport. Steve Waugh's policy of "mental degradation" of opponents laid the foundation for what transpired in Cape Town and almost destroyed careers and reputations of Warner, Smith et al. Imagine if someone in tennis like Roger Federer thought he can taunt his opponents, let alone make sexual remarks relating to his opponent's sister, wife, or mother... Or if a golf player thought they can sledge Tiger Woods about his private life, just to gain an advantage... Clearly these sport "heroes" would be casted out, dumped by sponsors, have fines imposed, and exposed. We're not holding cricket to a higher standard than other sports. In which professional sport would it be OK to say what the Aussie cricketers have said to their opponents? And South Africa, England and India have all now learned to do the same. Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Brad Haddin, Darren Lehmann, David Warner ... the list goes on of players that are responsible for this developing this culture of abuse and bullying, of disrespecting their opponents. They set the double-standards, "we they knew where the line is, and never ever cross it, we 'head-butt' it, but we know... " Then when opponents respond with nasty stuff , they've crossed the "hypothetical line". The line is simple, it is the same as at our work places, any form of bully and intimidation are unacceptable. You should not be able to get away with anything on a cricket pitch that you will not get away with at work. It is not OK to belittle, to humiliate, to bully and intimidate your opponent with anything other than your skill. If the sport endorse it, then it is not a big stretch to believe it's OK to rub sandpaper on a ball. Let's get some accountability here, the ICC and the national associations should just simply ban sledging. It's easily policed just keep the stump microphones on. Stop trying to defend the indefensible. And then maybe good people like Steve Smith and Cam Bancroft wouldn't find themselves in the situation they do now.
Ex force fan
Guest
I thought that his bowling on Centurion when South Africa prepared a green mamba wicket was awesome. Nothing wrong with it and South Africa could not emulate his performance despite having Morkel and Steyn in the bowling attack.
DavSA
Guest
Just an aside ....When Mitch Johnson got physical with South Africa we may not have liked it but did respect him for it.