Smith: Caught & bowled

MELBOURNE/CAPE TOWN, Mar 25

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Steve Smith stepped down as Australia captain on Sunday and has been suspended for one Test by the International Cricket Council (ICC) amid stunning ball-tampering revelations that have plunged the Test team into crisis.

Smith was also fined 100 per cent of his match fee, while opening batsman Cameron Bancroft, who was caught on camera attempting to alter the condition of the ball, was handed three demerit points and a 75 per cent fine of his match fee.

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Bancroft, however, escaped a ban and is therefore free to play in the fourth Test starting in Johannesburg on Friday if selected.

David Warner also resigned as vice-captain on Sunday amid shock and disappointment at the conduct of the team back home.

The day also saw South Africa routing Australia by 322 runs to win the third Test. Set 430 to win, Australia were skittled out for just 107 on the fourth day.  South Africa lead the series 2-1.

Earlier, Cricket Australia (CA) said Smith and Warner had agreed to give up leadership roles following “discussions” with the governing body, with wicketkeeper Tim Paine being asked to take the reins for the remainder of the third Test in Cape Town and mostly likely now the fourth.

“We will investigate this matter with the urgency that it demands,” CA CEO James Sutherland said. “Cricket Australia and Australian cricket fans expect certain standards of conduct from cricketers representing our country, and on this occasion these standards have not been met.

“All Australians, like us, want answers and we will keep you updated on our findings, as a matter of priority.”

Smith and Warner’s demotion came hours after Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull heaped pressure on CA to act swiftly and decisively.

“I have to say that for the whole nation which holds those who wear the ‘baggy green’ up on a pedestal about as high as you can get in Australia, certainly higher than any politician that’s for sure, this is a shocking disappointment,” Turnbull said.

Smith had admitted on Saturday that the ball-tampering carried out by Bancroft had been orchestrated by himself and senior players but although he was “embarrassed” by the scandal, he had no intention of stepping down as skipper.

The cost to Australia’s reputation is high, with cricketing officials and former players across the globe branding the team cheats and fans castigating the players on social media.

South Africa coach Ottis Gibson had called for strong action from the ICC.

Australian newspapers described the scandal as the worst captaincy crisis since 1981 when skipper Greg Chappell instructed younger brother Trevor to bowl underarm with the last ball of a one-day match against New Zealand to secure a victory.

Michael Clarke, Smith’s predecessor as captain, said the revelations were “disgraceful” and that he had no doubt that the skipper would be “crying in his hotel room”. — Reuters