Bancroft charged with ball-tampering as Smith admits they planned it

  • Cameron Bancroft was seen running his hand over the rough side of the ball
  • He removed a yellow object from his pocket and placed it down his trousers 
  • The Australia opener then showed the umpires a different item from his pocket
  • Using a foreign object or roughing up the ball to gain reverse swing is prohibited
  • South Africa ended day three on 238-5 in their second innings, a lead of 294 

Australia cricketers have admitted ball tampering in a stunning public confession on Saturday.

Batsman Cameron Bancroft says he attempted to tamper with the ball and captain Steve Smith says the team’s senior players planned it.

Bancroft was caught on television cameras holding a small yellow object which he said was a piece of sticky tape to try and tamper with the ball during day three of the third Test against South Africa. Bancroft said he tried to pick up rough granules from the side of the pitch with the sticky tape and rub it on the ball to try and change its condition.

Australia’s Cameron Bancroft has found himself at the centre of ball-tampering controversy

He was seen running his hand over the ball, before removing a yellow object from his pocket

The Australia player was then spotted putting the object down the front of his trousers

The opening batsman was seen running his hand over the ball, before removing a yellow object from his pocket and placing it down the front of his trousers

Bancroft said he had been charged with ball tampering by the match officials after the day’s play.

Smith said the team’s ‘leadership group’ came up with the idea to try and cheat to bring Australia back into the match. He said coaches did not know about the cheating.

In a hugely embarrassing moment for Australian cricket, Smith said he was ‘not proud at all’ but insisted he would not resign the captaincy.

On the field, half-centuries by Aiden Markram and AB de Villiers helped South Africa to increase their lead to 294 on the latest day of this hugely contentious series.

Markram was out just before the tea break for 84 and de Villiers was 51 not out as South Africa ended day three on 238-5 in their second innings. The home team’s lead was approaching the significant marker of 300, which would make it hugely difficult for Australia. 

Bancroft was spoken to by English umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth on Saturday

Bancroft was spoken to by English umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth on Saturday

 

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