A suburban coach summed up the shocking impact of the Australian team’s ball tampering revelations on our junior cricketers: “Last week they were heroes and this week they’re cast as villains.’’

Kris McMullin is not alone in his disappointment, as cricket-mad kids are, for the first time, questioning the halos around their heroes and parents and coaches broach conversations about cheating, what it means and why you shouldn't do it.

Mr McMullin, a junior coach at Taylors Lakes Cricket Club in Melbourne’s west, said that when kids see the word ‘‘cheat’’ splashed across the media, ‘‘I’m sure they’re thinking differently now of the Australian captain and the Australian cricket team’’.

Xavier Garita has always aspired to be an international cricket star, but not any more. Credit:Simon Schluter

Xavier Garita, 13, from the northern Melbourne suburb of Fairfield, is reconsidering his dream of being an international cricket star.