Smith and Warner could face up to a life ban from CA
For the first time since the readmission of the Proteas, Australia’s record of remaining unbeaten in a Test-series in South Africa is under threat. South Africa are now leading the 4-Test series by 2-1 as they clinched a 322-run victory over the Aussies in the controversy-marred third Test.
While Cameron Bancroft was given three demerit points and fined 75 percent of his match fee for tampering with the ball, Steve Smith was handed a one-Test ban and fined 100 percent of his match fee for his complicity in the matter.
Meanwhile, the Cricket Australia [CA] chief executive James Sutherland issued a public apology. He stated that Smith’s conduct is contrary to the Laws of their game and the spirit of the cricket.
"To our Australian Cricket Fans, we are sorry," Sutherland said. "We are sorry that you had to wake up this morning to news from South Africa that our Australian Men's Cricket team and our Captain admitted to conduct that is outside both the Laws of our game and the Spirit of Cricket. This behavior calls into question the integrity of the team and Cricket Australia."
A charge of conduct contrary to the spirit of the game includes the clause "any conduct that is considered 'unfair play' under Rule 42 of the Laws of Cricket or against the spirit in which the game of cricket should be played". The maximum penalty available to the code of conduct commissioner is a life ban from the sport, based on "the seriousness of the breach" and "the harm caused by the breach to the interests of cricket". As a part of the "leadership group" that knew about the uncouth happenstance, Smith and Warner could face a life ban.
CA's head of integrity Iain Roy and team performance manager Pat Howard travelled to Cape Town to commence an investigation. The outcome of this investigation will decide the fate of the accused players.
Steve Smith and David Warner stepped down as captain and vice-captain respectively after the ball-tampering issue for the remainder of the Test. Tim Paine was named as the new captain for the Baggy Greens.
"The ASC condemns cheating of any form in sport. The ASC expects and requires that Australian teams and athletes demonstrate unimpeachable integrity in representing our country," the Australian Sports Commission [ASC] said in a statement.
"The Australian cricket team are iconic representatives of our country. The example they set matters a great deal to Australia and to the thousands of young Australians playing or enjoying the sport of cricket and who look up to the national team as role models.
"Given the admission by Australian captain Steve Smith, the ASC calls for him to be stood down immediately by Cricket Australia, along with any other members of the team leadership group or coaching staff who had prior awareness of, or involvement in, the plan to tamper with the ball. This can occur while Cricket Australia completes a full investigation," the statement added.
"The Board of Cricket Australia has endorsed Tim Paine to step in as Acting Captain for the remainder of this Test," said CA chairman David Peever. "Both Steve and David will take to the field today under Tim's captaincy. The Board fully supports the process for an immediate investigation into what occurred in Cape Town. We regard this as a matter of the utmost seriousness and urgency. We will ensure we have all information available to make the right decisions for Australian cricket."
