Australian Sports Commission says Smith should go now, while PM expresses ‘shock and disappointment’ after captain admits plan to cheat in South Africa

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Cricket Australia has resisted widespread calls for the immediate sacking of Steve Smith after the Australian captain admitted overseeing ball-tampering during the third Test in South Africa.

Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian prime minister, added his voice to the criticism after Smith admitted that he and batsman Cameron Bancroft conspired to “get an advantage” in Cape Town by applying tape to the ball on day three. Smith told media that he would not step down, saying he was still “the right person for the job”.

“I’m not proud of what’s happened [and] it’s not within the spirit of the game,” Smith said. “My integrity, the team’s integrity, the leadership group’s integrity has come into question and rightfully so.”

Steve Smith admits to Australia ball-tampering plan against South Africa Read more

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC), the governing body of sport, called for the immediate standing down of Smith and anyone else in the team or entourage who knew about the conspiracy.

Earlier the chief executive of Cricket Australia, James Sutherland, said Smith would not be sacked or suspended until an investigation was completed by Cricket Australia’s head of integrity, Iain Roy.

“We’re in the middle of a game right now and that game needs to conclude,” he told reporters on Sunday. “We certainly don’t have all the evidence at hand. We need someone to go over there and talk to the relevant people involved.

“I have asked our head of integrity Iain Roy to travel to South Africa today … Iain’s brief will be to gather the relevant information to address this matter and to understand it better.

“Once Iain submits his report, we will make further comment.”

In an emotional press conference Sutherland said he was “shocked and disappointed” by Smith’s admission of cheating and said cricket fans would be right to feel aggrieved. “It’s a very sad day for the game of cricket,” he said.

Smith’s retention of the role defied calls for his immediate removal from politicians, sportspeople and former cricketers. Commentators in Australia and across the world have called for him to go, with some saying the team should forfeit the Test and fly home.

On Sunday afternoon the ASC – the government body that oversees and funds the nation’s sporting organisations – called for Smith’s immediate removal. “The ASC calls for [Smith] to be stood down immediately by Cricket Australia, along with any other members of the team leadership group or coaching staff who had prior awareness,” said the chair, John Wylie, and the CEO, Kate Palmer.

They insisted Smith’s sacking could occur while Cricket Australia undertook the integrity review. “The ASC condemns cheating of any form in sport … The Australian cricket team are iconic representatives of our country. The example they set matters a great deal to Australia.”

The former England captain Michael Vaughan said Smith’s position was now “untenable”.

“Steve Smith, his team and all the management will have to accept that whatever happens in their careers they will all be known for trying to cheat the game,” he tweeted.

Turnbull, the Australian prime minister, addressed the scandal on Sunday and stopped short of saying Smith should go, but branded his behaviour “beyond belief”.

“It’s wrong and I look forward to Cricket Australia taking decisive action soon,” he said. “I think I speak for all Australians in saying how shocked and disappointed we all are.”

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke labelled Smith’s actions “disgraceful” and “blatant cheating”, without calling for his sacking.



Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) WHAT THE ........ HAVE I JUST WOKEN UP TO. Please tell me this is a bad dream.

“I can’t believe the leadership group has made a decision to do this,” he said. “As a leader, you can’t ask somebody to do something you’re not willing to do yourself.

“It’s premeditated cheating, it is blatant cheating, it is disgraceful and it is not accepted by anyone.”

The former Australian test cricketer Simon Katich told Australian radio that Smith, vice-captain David Warner and head coach Darren Lehmann had “no option” but to resign or be sacked.



Shane Warne, speaking before Smith’s press conference where he admitted to ball-tampering, also tweeted that he was “very disappointed” with the footage broadcast last night, where Bancroft was seen to drop the tape into his underpants to hide it from the umpires.



Quick guide Ball tampering Show Hide What is ball tampering? When someone interferes with the condition of the ball with the primary aim of altering its aerodynamics. Why would they do that? To gain an advantage over the batsman by making the ball swing more in the air, to achieve reverse swing or to degrade the ball to a point that a new one is required. New balls are favoured by fast bowlers as they move quicker and bounce more. How can it be it done? The ball can either be shined on one side – with the application of lip balm, saliva sweetened by a lolly, polish, sun cream or hair gel – or made more abrasive on the other – by scuffing the ball with a finger nail, rough paper, dirt or even teeth. The seam of the ball can also be picked. Why is it considered cheating? Ball tampering is outlawed by the Laws of Cricket. Under law 41, it is an offence for any player to take any action which changes the condition of the ball, however polishing it on clothing, removing mud and drying the ball with a pre-approved piece of cloth are acceptable. If an offence is found to have taken place during a match, five penalty runs are awarded to the batting side and the doctored ball must be replaced. If discovered retrospectively, other sanctions can be applied.

Photograph: www.alamy.com

Australian politicians including the Liberal senator Richard Colbeck, the National party MP Darren Chester and the Labor MP Andrew Giles called for Smith and the Australian team to be brought home. “Bring them all home, don’t want them representing my country! Tour over,” Colbeck tweeted.

Olympic skier David Morris said Smith’s actions had made “all Aussie athletes look bad”.

The Monty Python comedian John Cleese was among other well-known figures to weigh in: “I see Steve Smith, the Aussie cricket captain, in admitting ‘ball-tampering’, explained that the team leaders thought it was ‘a way of gaining an advantage’. Another way of ‘gaining an advantage’ is to cheat.”