David Warner allegedly told English players how he used tape attached to his hand to tamper with the ball during the Ashes.
In a brazen act during the post-series drinks between the teams, Australia’s vice-captain revealed his method of altering the ball’s condition to a band of England’s defeated players, Daily Mail Australia understands.
It revolves around the strapping the 31-year-old wears on the thumb and index finger of his left hand. Abrasive substances are then attached to the tape to rough up or dull one side of the ball – a crucial factor in promoting reverse swing.
Oddly, although Warner regularly wears the protective coverings while in the field, he removes them while batting.
He was accused of the same time of tampering in the second Test against South Africa a few weeks ago.
The method of altering the ball revolves around the strapping Warner wears on the thumb and index finger of his left hand
David Warner has emerged as the central figure in Australian ball-tampering
The disgraced former vice-captain has been branded a hypocrite after being publicly critical when South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was charged with ball-tampering for applying sticky saliva from a lolly during the 2016-17 series between the countries.
He said: ‘We hold our heads high and I would be very disappointed if one of our team members did that.
‘The rules are in place for a reason, if you’re not gonna use them, then why bother having them?’
The Daily Mail understands Aussie vice-captain told England players of his methods in the Ashes
Abrasive substances are then attached to the tape to rough up or dull one side of the ball
Captain Steve Smith was banned for one match on Sunday and fined his entire match fee of around $18,000 by the ICC after he admitted the ‘leadership group’ of his team were all in on the premeditated plan to cheat in the humiliating third Test loss to South Africa in Cape Town.
Rookie batsman Cameron Bancroft was illegally attempting to alter the ball’s condition by applying sticky tape to its rough side, increasing the chances of it gathering dirt from the playing area.
However, despite a social media video of Bancroft emerging this weekend appearing to show him shoving sugar in his pockets during a break in play, he is no more than a fall-guy.
Australia only switched to their eight-cap opening batsman as chief ball polisher for this match after Warner aroused suspicion in the second Test at Port Elizabeth, where a dressing-room attendant witnessed him putting sandpaper into his strappings.
Australia avoided detection during their 4-0 win series over Joe Root’s England team earlier this winter — although the tourists were mystified as to how the home attack were able to produce such lavish reverse swing in comparison to that extracted by their own renowned exponents such as James Anderson and Chris Woakes, and at venues not routinely associated with it.
It was also noted that the ball regularly went to Warner between overs, a time when umpires are on the move and less aware of where it is being transferred.
Pressure is mounting on Cricket Australia to permanently axe Smith, Warner and coach Darren Lehmann — they have the power to impose lifetime bans — with their positions now untenable in the light of such a flagrant abuse of the ICC’s code of conduct.
Warner regularly wears the protective coverings in the field, but removes them while batting
SO WHAT WERE WARNER AND CO UP TO DURING THE ASHES?
These pictures underline the suggestion that David Warner was involved in altering the condition of the ball during the recent Ashes series.
Australia’s vice-captain is said to have revealed his method to England players at the end of the series.
It revolves around the strapping he wears on the thumb and index finger of his left hand (pictured during the final Ashes Test). Abrasive substances are then attached to the tape to rough up or dull one side of the ball.
Oddly, Warner, who says he needs the strapping to protect his injured fingers and thumb, removes the strapping while batting.
Cameron Bancroft was also implicated in Sydney. This picture appears to show the Aussie opener pocketing some sugar.
