Australia cricket coach Darren Lehmann said he was aware of ‘techniques’ being used by his side to gain an advantage over batsmen before his players were caught ball tampering.
Lehmann told reporters earlier in the four Test series against South Africa that he had ‘no problems’ with methods being used to create reverse swing, which occurs when one side of the ball is more deteriorated than the other.
Cameron Bancroft was trying to create the effect during the third Test on the weekend when he was caught on camera cheating by rubbing one side of the ball with dirt stuck to yellow tape.
Weeks earlier, Lehmann seemingly acknowledged he was aware of the underhand tactics being used in the series, which came to light on Saturday and brought Australian cricket to its knees.
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Australia cricket coach Darren Lehmann (pictured) said he was aware of ‘techniques’ being used by his side to gain an advantage over batsmen before his players were caught ball tampering
![Lehmann told reporters earlier in the four Test series against South Africa that he had 'no problems' with methods being used to create reverse swing](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/08/4AA003FB00000578-5552749-Lehmann_told_reporters_earlier_in_the_four_Test_series_against_S-m-16_1522222407338.jpg)
Lehmann told reporters earlier in the four Test series against South Africa that he had ‘no problems’ with methods being used to create reverse swing
![Cameron Bancroft was trying to create the effect during the third Test on the weekend when he was caught on camera cheating by rubbing one side of the ball with dirt stuck to yellow tape (pictured)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/08/4A9F21AF00000578-5552749-image-a-14_1522222390558.jpg)
Cameron Bancroft was trying to create the effect during the third Test on the weekend when he was caught on camera cheating by rubbing one side of the ball with dirt stuck to yellow tape (pictured)
‘Obviously, there are techniques used by both sides to get the ball to reverse and that’s just the way the game goes – I have no problems with it,’ Lehmann said after the first Test in Durban.
He was then asked by a reporter if he felt the techniques would be considered acceptable by the game’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC).
‘I don’t know, you would have to ask the umpires and the ICC that one,’ Lehmann replied with a grin.
An internal investigation by Cricket Australia (CA) found the coach had no knowledge of his players’ plans to cheat, and spared him the axe on Wednesday.
![An internal investigation by Cricket Australia (CA) found the coach had no knowledge of his players' plans to cheat, and spared him the axe on Wednesday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/08/4A98FF8300000578-5552749-image-a-18_1522222470667.jpg)
An internal investigation by Cricket Australia (CA) found the coach had no knowledge of his players’ plans to cheat, and spared him the axe on Wednesday
![Chief executive James Sutherland claimed only three people were aware of the plot; Steve Smith (pictured with Dani Willis), David Warner and Bancroft](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/09/4A8F56E800000578-5552749-image-m-35_1522224020754.jpg)
![David Warner pictured with wife Candice](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/09/4A9AB6EA00000578-5552749-image-a-36_1522224032173.jpg)
Chief executive James Sutherland claimed only three people were aware of the plot; Steve Smith (left with Dani Willis), David Warner (right with Candice Warner) and Bancroft
![The disgraced trio were sent home, where they were told they will receive 'significant sanctions' (pictured is Cameron Bancroft)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/08/4A9883B300000578-5552749-image-a-22_1522222534139.jpg)
The disgraced trio were sent home, where they were told they will receive ‘significant sanctions’ (pictured is Cameron Bancroft)
Chief executive James Sutherland claimed only three people were aware of the plot; Steve Smith, David Warner and Bancroft.
The disgraced trio were sent home, where they were told they will receive ‘significant sanctions’.
Sutherland refused to announce what the penalties for the trio will be when he faced the media on Tuesday night local time.
He also refused to utter the words ‘cheat’ or ‘cheated’ when questioned about the players’ conduct.
Sutherland announced Lehmann would be spared his job, despite TV images of him talking to 12th man Peter Handscomb on a walkie-talkie moments before the latter entered the field of play to talk to Bancroft.
![Sutherland (pictured) refused to announce what the penalties for the trio will be when he faced the media on Tuesday night local time](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/08/4A9B9FEC00000578-5552749-Sutherland_pictured_refused_to_announce_what_the_penalties_for_t-a-24_1522222599988.jpg)
Sutherland (pictured) refused to announce what the penalties for the trio will be when he faced the media on Tuesday night local time
![Sutherland announced Lehmann (pictured) would be spared his job, despite TV images of him talking to 12th man Peter Handscomb on a walkie-talkie moments before the latter entered the field of play to talk to Bancroft](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/08/4A9954C800000578-5552749-Sutherland_announced_Lehmann_pictured_would_be_spared_his_job_de-a-28_1522222655309.jpg)
Sutherland announced Lehmann (pictured) would be spared his job, despite TV images of him talking to 12th man Peter Handscomb on a walkie-talkie moments before the latter entered the field of play to talk to Bancroft
Bancroft then shoved the piece of yellow sticky-tape down the front of his trousers and only produced a glasses cleaner when confronted by umpires.
By the end of the day, he was sitting beside Smith as the captain confirmed he cheated under his instructions.
Smith also implicated the so-called ‘leadership group’, which includes bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Both bowlers were said to be furious at being linked to the scandal and were cleared by the CA investigation.
![Bancroft then shoved the piece of yellow sticky-tape down the front of his trousers and only produced a glasses cleaner when confronted by umpires](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/08/4A8CA66300000578-5552749-image-m-29_1522222657967.jpg)
Bancroft then shoved the piece of yellow sticky-tape down the front of his trousers and only produced a glasses cleaner when confronted by umpires
![By the end of the day, he was sitting beside Smith (right) as the captain confirmed he cheated under his instructions](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/08/4A8CA67800000578-5552749-image-a-26_1522222636523.jpg)
By the end of the day, he was sitting beside Smith (right) as the captain confirmed he cheated under his instructions
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/03/28/09/4A94CCED00000578-5552749-image-a-37_1522224125826.jpg)