These are uncertain times for Australian cricket – and the world.
Yet another senior official in the White House Jim Mattis, the US Defence Secretary, has walked away from President Trump. The Ukrainian parliament has erupted into an all-in brawl.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of a nuclear war that could wipe out civilisation, and China is accused of hacking global companies to steal trade secrets and technology.
Among it all, former Australian cricket captain Steve Smith admitted he walked away despite knowing about the plot to sandpaper the ball in Cape Town.
It was the biggest mistake of his life, and he’s paid dearly for it.
While the inmates are taking over the asylum in the northern hemisphere, Smith’s remorse yesterday in his first media conference in nine months, was a breath of fresh air.
The 12-month ban Smith, and David Warner, copped expires on March 28 next year, Cameron Bancroft’s nine-month ban ends in a week.
Smith was hit with a further ban of not being eligible to captain Australia again until 2020, while Warner’s not eligible for an executive position in any team for the remainder of his career.
Those bans were handed down by the Cricket Australia board that has subsequently been found guilty by an independent investigation of a win-at-all-costs to improve the corporate image, as against the culture of the team.
Fault of both sides.
To Smith’s credit, he was full of praise for new captain Tim Paine. To be fair, both Smith and Warner should be praised for the way they have handled their bans. They have played Sydney first grade cricket and held clinics to coach the budding young cricketers in their club’s districts.
For the do-gooders who want Smith and Warner banned for life because they were caught cheating, claiming Australians never cheat, they should be reminded of the constant offsides at the kick-off in rugby and rugby league. They need to remember the feeding of the league scrum under the second row’s feet. They need to take another look at the soccer dives to claim a penalty or a red card – or the interference of players away from the ball in AFL.
It’s all cheating.
What Smith and Warner did was inexcusable. They have done the crime, and are serving the time, but when that’s over, both are clean and should be welcomed back.
Cameron Bancroft of Australia talks to the umpire. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)
Both are doing everything possible to restore the trust cricket fans had for them before the bans.
Despite the fact they haven’t played for nine months, Smith is still the third highest ranked Test batsman in the world, and Warner the sixth.
Their Test averages bear testimony to that. Smith’s 61.37 includes 23 centuries, and 24 half-centuries, while Warner’s 48.20 average has 21 centuries, and 24 half-centuries.
Their inclusion in the Ashes campaign next year will be a huge boost to overcome the fact the baggy greens haven’t won an Ashes series in England since 2001.
But with a top batting order of Warner, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, and Smith – and with an attack of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon – the Ashes promises to be one of the all-time great battles.
Who the two in the middle after Tim Paine will be won’t be answered until game time with Travis Head, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Labuschange, Michael Neser, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson, and a bolter in 19-year-old batsman Jason Sangha, all in the frame.
James
Guest
For me what separates this from any other instance of ball tampering is that all other times a team has cheated, the captain has done the deed or at least a senior player. In this instance the leadership got the new guy to do it, that is just weak and pathetic and makes it so so much worse not just as a cheating instance but because they are from the get go trying to shift the blame.
James
Guest
Oh i dont know if id go that far, Warner was obviously the main man and should absolutely be held accountable.
AREH
Roar Guru
Yeah I cannot believe he allowed himself to do that ad, the timing was just horrible - before his returning press conference, three months before his ban even finishes. The naivety is a very interesting point. It's almost as if you have a guy who knows so much about batting, and not a lot else. I don't think he should hold a captaincy role again, but then there's the issue of succession to Tim Paine - hopefully by the time Paine is finished as a test cricketer, there is an obvious candidate to lead. The part that excites me is Smith coming back into the fold as the gun batsman only - because it is the thing he does so well.
Battler
Roar Rookie
Ball tampering isn’t a rarity in cricket. Other captains have been banned for it in recent history, and it most definitely occurs more often than is picked up on camera. The Aussie incident for example was only discovered because the SA broadcasters were acting like detectives in terms of trying to spot it, wouldn’t the reverse be happening for the home side (broadcasters keeping SA fielders off screen)? I know the Australian media would love to pick it up so that they can crucify the culprit and sell papers and clicks to all the offended outraged dandies in our nation, but that’s not what happens in other parts of the world.
Battler
Roar Rookie
He was referring to the BBL, not t20 leagues in general. He's one of the premier t20 batsmen in the world, and arguably the best of all time in the format, why else wouldn't a franchise want him?
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
That could well be it. I am just not convinced. It feels more like the contrition is about getting sprung, rather than the act.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I expect Smith to nip it in the bud and prevent it from happening. That is what a strong captain would have done. And Smith now recognises it.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
This is Smith's version of the truth. I guess we supporters will never know exactly what happened due to each participant (Smith, Warner and Bancroft) having a different spin on it. If coming clean from Smith's perspective means he has admitted that he didn't want to know about Warner's plan to tamper with the ball then he comes across as even weaker than we thought he was.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Spot on. I’m in the camp that they can serve their bans and come back, as long as they prove their form and are kept out of the team leadership. I just wish they’d stop lying about it. Unfortunately that might mean another big group of suspensions if they were to be consistent
jeznez
Roar Guru
I believe his original comments that the team leadership knew about it much more than his more recent comments that he saw something was going on and said “I don’t want to know about it”
jeznez
Roar Guru
Agree, there is no way the bowlers didn’t know what was happening. I’m disgusted that Warner has been scapegoated over this. I don’t believe for a second that it was all him and that Smith’s only involvement was to say he didn’t want to know about it
JamesH
Roar Guru
JFC. Where is the 'dislike' button on this site? Gayle has since played for 10 different T20 franchises across six different countries. In what world is that 'blackballed'?!?
JamesH
Roar Guru
Well said. He's a big kid who just loves cricket and should never have been captain. Without excusing a grown man for his own actions, CA has a lot to answer for in terms of not getting the right people around Smith.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Smith gets bashed for not being transparent about what happened, Smith gets bashed for telling the truth. He didn't throw anyone under a bus. He tried to avoid doing exactly that back in March (even if it was ham-fisted) by refusing to name names. Now he's asked about his specific role and answers honestly. How is that not coming clean? He was never a good captain and shouldn't lead the side again. You got that part right.
pakistanstar
Roar Rookie
I wonder if all the wowsers on here calling for life bans have ever made mistakes before? Honestly, it's just a game of cricket and as far as I'm concerned once their bans are up it's time to move on from this.
1st&10
Guest
Mom, I actually agree with you when it comes to Smith/Bancroft. But Warner is a different kettle of fish. He has a terrible antecedents and is no leader. I wouldn’t follow him through a drive-through. Cheers
1st&10
Guest
I actually agree with “Mom” on this one. Steve Smith has a long way to go to gain said respect
1st&10
Guest
Nominate what is wrong with one thing I have stated about him. Look up his antecedents Are you a relative of his? Is so, must be so proud
1st&10
Guest
I dream of running out to him? Please, I actually serve the community and run into danger that people are running away from Warner is a disgrace
anon
Roar Pro
Gayle has been blackballed. Teams won't take him. Something about men showing a playful interest in women not being "family friendly". If it was a cisgender taking an interest in another cisgender it would be promoted and encouraged.