Ball tampering scandal: Darren Lehmann apologises to Australia

Australia coach Darren Lehmann has broken his silence after three of his players were exposed as cricket cheats.

Lehmann on Wednesday apologised to the Australian public, but begged cricket fans to show mercy to David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, who were all handed down lengthy bans by Cricket Australia earlier in the day. 

He insisted the trio are not bad people after Warner hatched a ball tampering plan against South Africa, which Bancroft executed while Smith watched on.  

Australia coach Darren Lehmann (centre) broke his silence on Wednesday after three of his players were exposed as cricket cheats

Lehmann (pictured) apologised to the Australian public, but begged cricket fans to show mercy to David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, who were all handed down lengthy bans by Cricket Australia earlier in the day

Lehmann (pictured) apologised to the Australian public, but begged cricket fans to show mercy to David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, who were all handed down lengthy bans by Cricket Australia earlier in the day

He insisted the trio are not bad people after Warner (left) hatched a ball tampering plan against South Africa, which Bancroft executed while Smith (right) watched on

He insisted the trio are not bad people after Warner (left) hatched a ball tampering plan against South Africa, which Bancroft executed while Smith (right) watched on

‘I want to apologise to the Australian public. We know we have let so many people down. We are truly sorry,’ an emotional Lehmann said. 

‘The players have made a grave mistake but they are not bad people. There is a human side to this. I hope people will give them a second chance.

‘There is a need for us to change the way we play. We need to work to bring the respect back from the fans.’

Lehmann added that he was ‘disappointed and embarrassed’ by the scandal which has seen Smith and Warner receive 12-month bans from international and domestic cricket.

Bancroft – who used a piece of sandpaper to rub one side of the ball to illegally create reverse swing – was banned for nine months.

Lehmann said he is now concerned for the trio’s mental welfare after they were sent home disgraced from South Africa.

Lehmann added that he was 'disappointed and embarrassed' by the scandal which has seen Smith and Warner receive 12-month bans from international and domestic cricket

Lehmann added that he was ‘disappointed and embarrassed’ by the scandal which has seen Smith and Warner receive 12-month bans from international and domestic cricket

Bancroft (pictured) - who used a piece of sandpaper to rub one side of the ball to illegally create reverse swing - was banned for nine months

Bancroft (pictured) – who used a piece of sandpaper to rub one side of the ball to illegally create reverse swing – was banned for nine months

Lehmann said he is now concerned for the trio's mental welfare after they were sent home disgraced from South Africa (pictured is Warner with wife Candice)

Lehmann said he is now concerned for the trio's mental welfare after they were sent home disgraced from South Africa (pictured is Smith with fiancee Dani Willis)

Lehmann said he is now concerned for the trio’s mental welfare after they were sent home disgraced from South Africa (pictured is Warner and Smith with partners Candice and Dani Willis)

‘Their health and wellbeing is extremely important to us,’ he said.

He added: ‘I’m not going to resign, we need to change how we play … I need to change.’ 

Lehmann was spared the axe on Wednesday after an internal investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing. 

He held onto 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 said on Wednesday the message from Lehmann was: ‘What in the hell is going on’.

Lehmann held onto 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

Lehmann held onto 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

A CA investigation found that Warner (pictured) created the cheating plan and ordered 'a junior player (Bancroft)' to use sandpaper to alter the ball's condition

A CA investigation found that Warner (pictured) created the cheating plan and ordered ‘a junior player (Bancroft)’ to use sandpaper to alter the ball’s condition

Smith (pictured) was aware of the ball tampering plan but failed to stand in and prevent Bancroft from carrying it out, CA said in a statement

Smith (pictured) was aware of the ball tampering plan but failed to stand in and prevent Bancroft from carrying it out, CA said in a statement

‘[But] He didn’t use ‘hell’, he used another word,’ Sutherland added. 

A CA investigation found that Warner created the cheating plan and ordered ‘a junior player (Bancroft)’ to use sandpaper to alter the ball’s condition.

Smith was aware of the plan but failed to stand in and prevent Bancroft from carrying it out, CA said in a statement.

Bancroft then told reporters – as Smith quietly sat by his side – that a piece of yellow tape covered in dirt was used to affect the ball, not sandpaper.

Smith – who was on Wednesday seen leaving the team hotel in Johannesburg with a police escort – and Warner were banned for a year and also dumped by their Indian Premier League (IPL) sides, costing them millions of dollars. 

All three players have also been ordered to undertake 100 hours of service in community cricket. 

Smith was on Wednesday seen leaving the team hotel in Johannesburg with a police escort 

Smith was on Wednesday seen leaving the team hotel in Johannesburg with a police escort 

Smith and Warner (pictured with wife Candice) were banned for a year and also dumped by their Indian Premier League (IPL) sides, costing them millions of dollars

Smith and Warner (pictured with wife Candice) were banned for a year and also dumped by their Indian Premier League (IPL) sides, costing them millions of dollars

Sutherland on Wednesday night said in a statement: ‘I am satisfied that the sanctions in this case properly reflect a balance between the need to protect the integrity and reputation of the game and the need to maintain the possibility of redemption for the individuals involved, all of whom have learned difficult lessons through these events.

‘The CA Board understands and shares the anger of fans and the broader Australian community about these events. They go to the integrity and reputation of Australian Cricket and Australian sport and the penalties must reflect that.’

‘These are significant penalties for professional players and the Board does not impose them lightly. It is hoped that following a period of suspension, the players will be able to return to playing the game they love and eventually rebuild their careers.’ 



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