IT’S about to get even uglier.

David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft are reportedly considering their legal options to fire back at the extraordinary sanctions handed down by Cricket Australia over the ball tampering scandal ripping Aussie cricket apart.

Warner (12 months), Smith (12 months) and Bancroft (nine months) were on Wednesday night slapped with the most severe suspensions ever handed out in Australian cricket for on-field behaviour.

The Cricket Australia integrity unit investigation’s preliminary finding concluded the trio are guilty of breaching article 2.3.5 of Cricket Australia’s Code of Conduct — and were told to fly back to Australia on Wednesday night, leaving the Aussie cricket team broken into pieces ahead of the Fourth Test in Johannesburg, beginning Friday.

As part of the sanctions handed down, all three batsmen have a right to appeal the findings through an independent commissioner.

“If the player disputes either the charge or sanctions, there is a hearing before a CA Commissioner,” Cricket Australia’s code of conduct process states.

“The player may appeal the outcome of that hearing, and if so there is a hearing before an Appeals Commissioner (who is selected from the remaining CA Commissioners).”

Chief cricket writer for The Australian Peter Lalor reported Smith and Warner have already sought legal representation to assess their avenues to appeal the sanctions.

“The trio can appeal against the finding and the sentence, The Australian understands that Smith and Warner have already consulted lawyers in preparation,” Lalor told The Herald Sun.

“The trio were told the news in the team hotel just after breakfast this morning.

“Smith looked resigned to his fate as he left for the meeting and later emerged to tell his team mates who were still at breakfast. They were all grim faced as he told them.”

All players have the right to challenge their verdicts and also the duration of their penalties via a CA code of behaviour hearing with an independent commissioner, who can also choose whether the hearing is public or private — Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) March 28, 2018

It comes as veteran Aussie cricket commentator Jim Maxwell declared Smith is likely to accept the ban, but believes Warner will fight Cricket Australia.

“This could get ugly in terms of legal process, litigation, and appeal,” Maxwell told ABC Radio.

“It was very interesting yesterday that (Cricket Australia chief executive) James Sutherland, even though he was goaded by the press to do so, to say the word cheat. That may have a fair bit to do with the legal position in terms of where they sit with their legal process in terms of trying to get their investigation out there.”

Maxwell then reported what he believes actually occurred within the Aussie dressing room during the third day of the Third Test where Warner, Bancroft and Smith reportedly conspired to tamper with the ball during South Africa’s second innings.

He said Smith is only guilty of failing to police Warner and Bancroft.

“He probably, as I say, should have been more vigilant,” Maxwell told ABC Radio of Smith’s actions when the ball-tampering plot was reportedly taking shape between Warner and Bancroft.

“As I understand it, Steve looked over to them and said, ‘What are you blokes up to? I don’t want to know’. And then he went onto the field.”

It came as both Warner and Smith were informed they will also be banned from the 2018 IPL season — forcing the pair to surrender the $2.4 million deals they signed with their IPL franchises in January.

Cricket Australia chief Sutherland met with the disgraced trio behind closed doors at the team hotel in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning.

CA has ruled that Smith, Warner and Bancroft were the only players aware of a premeditated plan to illegally scuff the ball during the third Test against South Africa.

Darren Lehmann remains coach, with CA’s investigation team finding that no coach or member of support staff knew of the ball-tamping ploy.

Smith, Warner and Bancroft will be barred from representing Australia, their states and Big Bash League franchises during the bans, but will be permitted to play grade cricket.

The punishments effectively mean Smith’s next game for Australia will almost certainly be a warm-up game for next year’s World Cup in England, which is followed by an away Ashes campaign.

The World Cup starts at the end of May.

Warner, who has fallen out with teammates over the ball-tampering saga, may potentially have played his last game for Australia. It is unclear if the former vice-captain will be welcome back in the dressing room.

Smith broke the news to some teammates in the lobby shortly after meeting with Sutherland, many of which struggled to hide how shattered they were. Smith shared a particularly emotional moment with Tim Paine, formally handing over the captaincy with a hug and a handshake.

Paine, now ratified as the nation’s 46th Test skipper, is deeply conflicted at what is normally a moment of immense pride and elation.

Smith, who had a squeaky-clean image up until his life-changing decision on Saturday, remains disconsolate but is putting on a brave face and vowing to rebuild his legacy.

The fresh-faced skipper will face the music at a press conference in Sydney on Thursday.

Warner, who is heading home on the same flight as Smith, was nowhere to be seen at the hotel lobby on Wednesday morning.

— with AAP