New Delhi. The year 2018, the month of March and the grounds of Cape Town. This was that dark day in the history of cricket, which hardly anyone would be able to forget. In the third Test match played between South Africa and Australia, Cameron Bancroft put the Gentleman’s Game to shame along with Steve Smith and Warner. Smith and Warner also had to face a one-year ban after being found guilty of ball tampering.
Kangaroo players had tampered with the ball
In fact, during South Africa’s innings, Bancroft was caught red-handed while tampering with the ball. Bancroft used sand paper to polish the ball and his misdemeanor was caught on camera. It was seen in the video that the kangaroo batsman took out sand paper from his pocket and applied it on the ball. Bancroft was not the only culprit, but Captain Steve Smith and David Warner had jointly planned to execute this shameful incident.
Smith-Warner was banned for one year
Cricket Australia took strict action against all the three Kangaroo players and banned Bancroft, Warner and Smith. Smith had to lose the captaincy, while Warner was stripped of the responsibility of vice-captain and both were banned for one year. On the other hand, Bancroft was also banned from participating in international and domestic cricket for 9 months.
Smith-Warner wept bitterly
While doing a press conference, Steve Smith apologized for his poor act in front of the media and started crying bitterly. Smith had said that he would remember his mistake for the rest of his life and perhaps with time people would be able to forgive him. Not only Smith, but Warner also broke down in tears while interacting with the media.
Cricket Australia also apologized
This controversy of ball tampering had shaken the cricket world and the image of Cricket Australia was also tarnished everywhere. Smith and Warner had to face criticism from every corner of the world. Along with this, Cricket Australia also issued a statement apologizing to World Cricket.