Players, administrators and even the Australia Prime Minister had their say about the ball tampering controversy (1:19)

"I have no doubt the current Australian team continues to believe in this mantra (of skilful and fair cricket), however some have now failed our culture, making a serious error of judgement in the Cape Town Test Match. A focused and balanced perspective is needed in the condemnation on those involved in this, with a clear and critical consideration to the social impact and mental health of all players."

- Former Australia captain Steve Waugh

"It contaminates and allows people to speculate on a whole lot of things now. Not just the fact Australian cricket, which has a great deal of pride, is the laughing stock of the cricket but it allows people to speculate and cast aspirations over other activities."

- Former Australia wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, speaking to BBC Radio 5 live.

"We all woke up this morning shocked and bitterly disappointed by the news from South Africa. It seemed completely beyond belief that the Australian cricket team had been involved in cheating."

- Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull

"This morning [Australian cricket fans] have every reason to wake up and not be proud of the Australian team. It's a sad day for Australian cricket. Activities on the field yesterday in Cape Town are neither within the Laws of the game or within the spirit of the game."

- Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland

"Being labelled a cheat is the worst name you can get in sport. It's almost impossible to live down. It can have a really big impact on a player. Smith will need to be really strong to overcome this. If you've got a conscience I would think it would be a very hard thing to live down."

- Former Australia captain Ian Chappell, speaking to Channel Nine

"I can't talk for them but when the evidence is as damning as it was, it is sometimes just better to come clean. That's probably what they were thinking... We've had Ottis Gibson address the boys this morning and the focus is very much to apply relentless pressure and to be focused on the job at hand."

- South Africa team manager, Mohammed Moosajee

WHAT THE ........ HAVE I JUST WOKEN UP TO. Please tell me this is a bad dream. — Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 24, 2018

Steve Smith,his Team & ALL the management will have to accept that whatever happens in their careers they will all be known for trying to CHEAT the game ... #SAvAUS — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 24, 2018

Don't tell me this is happening for the first time,,,,is it ?????? We might have to dig out some old footage pic.twitter.com/wnk0Qvml3Q — Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) 25 March 2018

For those who want life ban on Smith- Faf du Plessis was found guilty of ball tampering twice. 1st time in 2013, he was fined 50% of his match fee. 2nd time in 2016, he was fined 100% of his match fee & demerit points. Following month he was made captain. — Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 26, 2018

Typical over reaction. No, ball tampering is not the same as match fixing. Match fixing is a far more serious crime. — Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 26, 2018

Can we talk about this? pic.twitter.com/cmpRrOArgD — Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) March 24, 2018

Bud you know nothing in professional sport is done without the consent of your captain and coach... Tough times ahead. — Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) March 24, 2018

The coach ran away! — Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 24, 2018

Laws of cricket: "The major responsibility for fair play rests with the captains..." Smith has admitted not merely cheating, but planning to cheat. Everything else in that ill-tempered series is irrelevant to this. By his own actions, Smith's position as captain is untenable. — Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) March 24, 2018

Disappointing and disgraceful........ a shocking day for the baggy green — CraigMcDermott (@c_mcdermott328) March 24, 2018

Surely, ICC will react under the laws of the game. But the World will be eagerly waiting for Cricket Australia to react appropriately...under the ethics of the game. — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 24, 2018

Absolutely love cricket and love watching mens cricket, but after all that has been said and happened during this Test series - I am not a fan... this DOES NOT happen in Women's Cricket https://t.co/pWPoCciEAz — Marizanne Kapp (@kappie777) March 24, 2018

When a player cannot feed corn flakes to the lucky hamster he keeps in his jockstrap, what is cricket coming to? https://t.co/k2NNMryw2R — Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) March 24, 2018