• The three main players in the ball-tampering affair are sent home • Decisions on sanctions for them are due in the next 24 hours

Darren Lehmann will remain as Australia head coach after the investigation into ball-tampering during the recent Cape Town Test concluded that just three players from the entire set-up were involved.

Steve Smith, the Australia captain, his deputy David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft have all been sent home in disgrace and told to expect “significant sanctions” in the next 24 hours for their roles in the plot in which the latter was caught scuffing the ball with a piece of grit-covered sticky-tape. All three have been charged with “conduct contrary to the spirit of the game” and are expected to be face lengthy suspensions, with Smith and Warner also likely to be stripped of their leadership roles when the punishment is announced.

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James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, stopped short of saying Smith could not lead the national team again and confirmed Tim Paine will be captain for the series finale against South Africa in Johannesburg starting on Friday – the wicketkeeper will be the 46th man to hold the position.

The findings Sutherland announced on Tuesday evening left many baffled that so few were privy to the plan – not least since Smith spoke of the “leadership group” in the squad having been its architects during his mea culpa; Bancroft, a junior player in the side, was merely the player who volunteered to carry it out.

Lehmann’s role has been scrutinised after he was seen speaking via a walkie-talkie to the 12th man, Peter Handscomb, moments after Bancroft’s actions were picked up by the cameras. The reserve then delivered a message to his team-mate, who stuffed the sticky‑tape down his trousers soon after.

But Sutherland said: “No other players or support staff had prior knowledge and this includes Darren Lehmann who, despite inaccurate media reports, has not resigned. He will continue to coach the Australian men’s team under his current contract [until after the 2019 Ashes].”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Cameron Bancroft, David Warner and Steve Smith – the three Australian cricket players sanctioned for ball tampering against South Africa. Composite: Getty Images

This assertion drew suggestions of a damage-limitation exercise, with Smith’s predecessor as captain, Michael Clarke, tweeting: “To [sic] many reputations on the line for the full story not to come out. Cape Town change room is a very small place! The truth, The full story, Accountability and Leadership – until the public get this Australian cricket is in deep shit!”

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, offered: “Only 3 people knew .......... #MyArse”, while the former wicketkeeper Matt Prior said: “Obviously the only people in the ‘leadership group’ were Smith and Warner? #notsosure”.

Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) Lehmann never knew - 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥

Either way the outlook appears bleak for the three players confirmed to have been involved. Cricket Australia is under pressure from the public, its sponsors and the government to come down hard. If the trio reject the penalties handed down, they will have the right to a hearing from an independent commissioner.

Reiterating that the week has been “extraordinarily bad”, Sutherland said: “I want to stress that we are contemplating significant sanctions in each case. These sanctions will reflect the gravity with which we view what has occurred and the damage it has done to the standing of Australian cricket.”

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Sutherland was asked repeatedly by television reporters to use the word “cheating” in the media conference but he refused to do so, instead reiterating his apology to the Australian public and the team’s current hosts. “I understand and share the anger and disappointment of the Australian cricket family about these events. Particularly to all the kids who love cricket and idolise the players. I also want to apologise to Cricket South Africa.”

The investigation had been led by Cricket Australia’s head of integrity, Iain Roy, who told Sutherland of his belief that the ball-tampering that took place during the 322-run defeat in Cape Town was a one-off incident, despite some suspicions in the England camp that it had occurred during their recent Ashes defeat.

In a lengthy statement, Sutherland said he also recognised that the issue “goes beyond” the specific incident on Saturday, adding: “A clear focus will be on re-engaging with Australian cricket fans and the public to rebuild respect.”

To that end he announced a review into the “conduct and culture” of Australian cricket teams, with significant bad blood between the two sides having been witnessed in the current series which South Africa lead 2-1 with one Test to play.

Sutherland arrived in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning before the team and met Roy and Pat Howard, the high‑performance manager, to discuss their findings from a string of interviews with players and staff. This appears to have caused divisions in the camp too, with reports that it was Warner who devised the plan – Smith simply agreed – but the vice-captain tried to share the blame around the team come explanation time.

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Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in particular were said to be incensed by this, with Warner reportedly leaving the team’s WhatsApp messenger group and striking an isolated figure before the squad’s departure from Cape Town.

At the same time as Sutherland announced the outcomes to a media conference later that day, Glenn Maxwell, Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw were en route to South Africa to join the squad – the latter just hours after hitting the winning runs for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield final against Tasmania.