Steve Smith under fire: Here's how the ball-tampering scandal unfolded

Updated March 29, 2018 15:43:59

Australia's top two cricketers have been sidelined for at least a year after Australian cricket was engulfed in scandal following Cameron Bancroft's attempt to tamper with the ball during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

Test captain Steve Smith and vice captain David Warner have been found to have plotted during a lunch break to have junior player Bancroft illegally tamper with the ball.

Here's how the dark day for Australian cricket unfolded, and what the fallout has been.

What was Bancroft doing?

Bancroft used sandpaper while working on the ball in an illegal attempt to scuff it. It was initially thought he has used tape as makeshift sandpaper but days later Cricket Australia revealed it was indeed sandpaper.

To make matters worse, he attempted to hide the evidence when he realised umpires were suspicious.

He stuffed the sandpaper down his pants, instead showing umpires a piece of cloth in his pocket.

Cameras captured it all and the match referee later charged him with ball tampering.

What's the point of scuffing the ball?

Reverse-swing has played a crucial role in the ongoing Test series in South Africa.

It's achieved by scuffing one side of the ball, and it can help fast bowlers produce unplayable deliveries.

Both sides have achieved remarkably early reverse-swing in the first two Tests, but attributed it to dry pitches and an abrasive centre-wicket block.

Australia was desperate to make the old ball start hopping in Cape Town, where the home side had seized control of the crunch clash.

What actual rules were broken?

Fielders aren't allowed to change the condition of the ball, with the major exception that they're allowed to polish it — so long as no artificial substance is used and it doesn't waste time.

Players can also remove mud from the ball (under the supervision of an umpire) and dry it with an approved piece of cloth.

The ICC Code of Conduct specifically outlines some of the things you can't do to the ball, including:

  • deliberately throw it into the ground to roughen it up
  • apply any artificial substance to it
  • interfere with the seams
  • scratch the surface with fingernails or any implement

It's up to the umpires to determine if a team has unfairly changed the condition of the ball. If they have, the ball is changed and their opponents are awarded five penalty runs.

While Bancroft was charged with ball tampering — and lost 75 per cent of his match fee as a result — Smith was charged with the separate offence of "conduct of a serious nature that is contrary to the spirit of the game", which led to him being suspended for one match and losing 100 per cent of his match fee.

What do (and don't) we know about the plot?

On Sunday, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the organisation needed a "clearer picture" of what had transpired before taking action.

Four days later, when CA released their charge sheets against Smith, Warner and Bancroft, more details of the plot emerged.

CA's statement said Warner instructed Bancroft "to carry out a plan to take steps to attempt to alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper".

Smith was found to have been aware of the plan but failed to "take steps to seek to prevent the development and implementation of that plan".

Questions will also be asked about coach Darren Lehmann's level of awareness, despite Smith insisting he had no idea about the plan.

What does this mean for Smith's captaincy?

A premeditated plan to cheat is not a good look for any leader of any sporting team.

Smith said he was "embarrassed" and "incredibly sorry for trying to bring the game into disrepute the way we did", but vowed to remain captain in the immediate aftermath of the scandal.

However that has been taken out his hands after being suspended for 12 months from all international and domestic cricket.

The door has been left open for him to return to the team and the captaincy, a year after returning to the field.

Smith's tour of South Africa was also brought to an abrupt end, with the captain suspended for the fourth and final Test in Johannesburg.

"It's a very sad day for Australian cricket," Sutherland said on Sunday.

All three players will be suspended from all international and domestic cricket — Warner for 12 months and Bancroft for nine — and have to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket.

Warner would not be considered for team leadership positions in the future and Bancroft, like Smith, would not be considered for leadership positions for a minimum of 12 months after their suspension.

In addition to facing bans from the game, the three cricketers involved have also lost sponsorship deals.

Is this worse than the underarm incident of 1981?

In case you don't remember, this was when Australia bowled underarm in order to stop New Zealand from scoring a six off the last ball of a one-day international — so ensuring an Australian victory.

Both moments of madness were triggered by a captain's desire to win.

Greg Chappell told his brother Trevor to do something legal but obviously not in the spirit of the game.

The incident at Newlands was both illegal and not in the spirit of the game — it was the team's most inexperienced player carrying out a premeditated plan hatched by people who should know better.

Offsiders columnist Richard Hinds says Australia's reputation has been damaged:

After the disgraceful events in Cape Town, who can now honestly say Australia plays its cricket "hard but fair" with a straight face?

Did the ball tampering work?

No. The umpires didn't change the ball or award a five-run penalty as they were satisfied that Bancroft hadn't been successful in his attempt to alter the condition of the ball.

In the end, Australia lost the Test by 322 runs, with South Africa taking a 2-1 series lead.


Topics: cricket, sport, australia, south-africa

First posted March 25, 2018 11:48:35