Protecting self-interest and reputation is innate, akin to a mother’s instinct towards her young. When under duress, a person’s determined strength to save face and spin events to suit a narrative that paints them in a positive light is at its strongest.
As is the current case with Australian cricket. In the wake of a rather poorly camouflaged and executed plan to cheat in order to gain an advantage, the men involved in potentially the most shameful day in the history of the Australian game are jockeying for position.
As we all know, Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were complicit in a failed attempt to tamper with a cricket ball during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town last March.
Vision portrayed the then 25-year-old Bancroft fiddling around his nether-regions, using and hiding a small piece of sandpaper that was intended to unnaturally alter the surface of the ball.
The event shocked the sporting world, and rightly so, yet the fallout has taken an interesting turn some nine months later. With Bancroft returning to play after adhering to the terms of his suspension and the captain and his deputy just three months away from duty, the game has become the most primal version of ‘every man for himself’.
No doubt all three have a slick media advisor calculating each and every move in the hope of presenting their client in the most positive light possible. Those relationships might now be stretched somewhat after both Smith and Bancroft chose to speak publicly about the affair, outlining their case for compassion and sympathy, while the public appears to have bought neither.
Smith threw some barbs at Cricket Australia officialdom and inferentially confirmed Warner as the culprit behind the cumbersome attempt to cheat. On Boxing Day Bancroft spoke openly in a rather poorly timed and awkward interview with Adam Gilchrist on Fox Cricket.
As uncomfortable as it may have been for Bancroft, perhaps he should have considered us. It was somewhat painful to watch. His play for sympathy was disingenuous and based around a misguided belief that had he refused the request to become involved in the action, his state of mind would have been similar to the one he has suffered since being caught.
(Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Bancroft suggested that the disappointment he felt after having let down so many through blatant cheating would have been matched by a similar level of disappointment had he taken the high moral ground and acted with integrity. He spoke of ‘putting his head on the pillow’ and having to live with the knowledge of having let teammates down had he chosen a moral course of action.
That is something of a ridiculous assertion and one that the West Australian might reconsider in the future when he has a clearer understanding of what it takes to resist expectation and the pressure that encourages cheating.
That pressure to conform was verbalised as Bancroft spoke of a desperation to go to whatever lengths required to gain respect and acceptance within the Australian cricket team. Specifically, he cited the pressure as emanating from the mouth of Warner.
Those words become the bus under which David Warner has well and truly been thrown. Smith’s comments, with which he alluded to his personal failures as a leader and the inaction that followed, still clearly fingered Warner as the culprit. Two have effectively turned on one, and the world awaits the left-hander’s response.
(Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
It will be interesting to see how he chooses to play the very game that has seen his captain and a young protege make little effort to hide the fact that he is a cheat. Considering Warner’s track record, there is little surprise.
Despite a respectable batting resume, there is something very important missing from his stocks: integrity and respect. Whether it be boorish and macho aggression on the field, requests for opponents to speak English, disgusting late-night social media attacks on journalists or a questionable commitment to club cricket and a subsequent no-show, Warner is one angry man.
And no doubt he’s even angrier after his two accomplices launched a double-decker bus in his direction.
The farcical nature of the entire saga has now managed to infiltrate the current struggles of the national team, with coach Justin Langer citing the difficulty of playing with such commentary surrounding the banned players.
Enough damage was done by the three who chose to cheat. The subsequent desperation in saving face and redirecting blame to Warner says quite a lot about the integrity of all involved. Their absence of concern for each other has now spread to a complete disregard for the Australian cricket team, and the battle with India that is far from done.
Most of all, it says a lot about the individuals involved. They showed little concern for themselves, the reputations of others and now the game itself.
Perhaps we were better off without them all.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Life bans huh? Great idea. I presume you support extending this to Faf, Athers and Trescothick too?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Well said Basil.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Dexter, if you ever do a 'presser' where emotion is possible then you are a fool not to read off a prepared script. It keeps your focus and words in line and reduces emotional divergence from the message you are giving. Even politicians and movie stars - who can operate well 'off the cuff' read prepared press statements.
Basil
Guest
amusing how the conspiracists view Warner's lack of public comment as proof of a wider untold truth. A good rule of thumb has always been that the simplest theory is usually the truth, or close to it. In this case it may well be that Warner's lack of reply to the comments of Smith and Bancroft could simply be due to the fact that what they have said is bang of the truth. Think about it. As we know Warner was in a very angry state of mind due to the sledging he had received about his wife, from the opposition and also their supporters. Whether he had brought it upon himself is beside the point. We also know that Warner had a strong belief from their last tour to the republic that the South Africans were ball tampering. I think Warner actually got a reprimand from the ICC for his comments. Then there is also what Clark is alleged to have said to Steyn. So given Warner's state of mind and his belief, justified or not that the South Africans were cheating, it is maybe not too surprising that at the interval as the game was slipping away (probably already had truth be told) he might hatch a hairbrained scheme to do similar. The fact that they were so easily caught is actually proof that this was a poorly thought out scheme, with little planning involved. It is not, as others seem to want to infer, evidence of probable previous undetected cheating. It is perfectly feasible that Smith having so much on his plate to deal with, especially as it seems with a coach who added little, could have not fully understood nor appreciated the enormity of what Warner and Bancroft had planned. Makes a lot more sense than the conspiracy that the whole team, and necessarily the coach, must have known about it all beforehand!
Mitcher
Guest
Life bans? Honestly, pull yourself together.
Mitcher
Guest
Your double comments here and their near incomprehensible bitter invective are the definition of foulness.
James
Guest
England was spanked in the Ashes and nothing changed that but has that video of Bancroft putting what looks like sugar in his pockets when fielding been explained? There seems to be no reason whatsoever to have like 4 spoonfulls of sugar in your pocket other than to rub the ball with it. Again England lost because they sucked so no Englishmen say thats why they lost or Australians change the topic to attack the English.
James
Guest
Yeah too right Max, its not like Smith and Bancroft were grown up men or if one of them had one of the most important jobs in Australia, who could think for themselves. They did nothing wrong damnit, Warner bamboozled them with his brilliance. That Warner, he always was a smart fella.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Well, I highlighted for you twice where he said "I apologise", those are pretty clear apologies. I get that you want more of an explanation to go with both of those apologies. Given I think that his part was to play a role in a whole of team plan and his team mates and CA don't want that to come out, I don't think we are going to get his full story until after he retires. For now he's keeping his mout shut in the hopes he'll be selected again.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Have you been living under a rock or does your dislike for Warner wilfully have you disregard reality in order for you to continue to spread misinformation. Warner did apologise. Or are you just too lazy to use google before mouthing off? "I failed in my responsibility as vice-captain of the Australia cricket team,” Warner said. "To the fans and the lovers of the game who have supported and inspired me on my journey as a cricketer, I want to sincerely apologise for betraying your trust in me. "I have let you down badly.” -David Warner, March 31 2018 presser.. FFS.
Paul2
Guest
I do look forward to Smith and Warner returning to the Test team. As well as injecting some quality into the batting line up, it will give the likes of Stuart and other high-minded keyboard warriors another opportunity to remind us how horrified they are by the whole affair.
Mon
Guest
Correct. And when Warner comes in I look forward to never having to read anything from all of these whinging, moralisers and wowsers on here right now promising they’ll never watch or support the Australian first XI under such circumstances. Back to the BBL you flogs.
Brian
Roar Rookie
Said it once says it yet again, it's a total boys club. They should have all gotten a life ban. I have little doubt this was not the first time either that "cheating" had taken place. Warner has just given a press conference to so all the right things to give a good pr job to ensure we all believe the leopards have changed their spots. Do the powers above really believe we are really going to accept this repentant script hook, line and sinker.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
As an explanation, it's up there with Bancroft's 'yellow tape'. Wake up Maggie, for crying out loud.
Nick
Roar Guru
Jeznez, No - he's still not actually apologised. He deflected and offered not to talk about it at all. Just that he's sorry for "his part". What "part" is he taking responsibility for?
Tanami Mehmey
Guest
The interviews were stage managed and failed in gaining support for the two players. David Warner does not appear to have support from the rest of the team or CA. Seems to me he has burnt his bridges. In my opinion- Steve Smith will play again but should never ever be considered for the captaincy. As others have mentioned, his weakness as a captain led to this situation. Cameron Bancroft may well play again but will spent a number of years earning his spot. Funny thing is this is how selection used to work (minus the ban for cheating). David Warner should never be considered to play for Australia again if you stick to the no doodle head policy, but CA is weak and will most likely yield.
LFrank
Guest
Maggie - I know this was the official line, but I find this one a bit hard to swallow for two reasons. Firstly, last time I checked they still made chewing gum that is, somewhat conveniently, individually wrapped, which would be quite helpful in a team environment that has a few bugs floating around. And secondly, I have a hard time understanding why a team of professional athletes (especially in a sport that claims to be compliant with the WADA code) would be offered a communal bowl of any kind of pellets.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I believe Warner might have reasons for not saying anything, the big question over the whole affair is not who else knew but was it interconnected with a betting plunge on the Rabada suspension. Mukesh Kumar Gupta or better known as the John Azhruddin introduced to Cronje and the John who gave money to Warne and Mark Waugh said he met Martin Crowe in New Zealand.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Thanks Stuart, good article; timely and nice to see someone speaking up for Dave Warner. I can't condone what Warner or any of them did - but those bagging Warner can go and pull your head in. You obviously have no compassion or understanding of what the SA crowd AND officials put his wife and family through during that test. Do you think only Dave Warner was affected by the face masks?? How about his wife and the explaining to the kids? What a foul, foul thing to do to a family - that is really stepping over the line and most normal people would be inclined to lose some ethical control. Warner had a brain snap from the anger built up from the treatment his family got which CA did nothing to support him over. He's done his time with more dignity than the other two. Leave him be to put his life back together.
Joe21
Roar Rookie
Your comment epitomises everything that's wrong with our cricket. Warner should never be selected again. I certainly will never again pay to watch him play.