AUSTRALIA’S extraordinary ball-tampering admission — and the stunningly brazen actions on the field — have left the cricketing world in shock, with Steve Smith, Darren Lehmann and David Warner all in the firing line.

Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera with a piece yellow tape, which he claims was being used to pick up sand granules to then rub against the ball to encourage deterioration and later reverse swing.

LIVE stream the Australia v South Africa Test Series on FOX SPORTS. Get a free 2-week Foxtel Now trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >

The vision of him shoving that piece of tape down his pants — as well as the suspicious communication between coach Lehmann and 12th man Peter Handscomb via walkie-talkie — went worldwide instantly.

Steve Smith later admitted it was a planned move, concocted by the team’s leadership group.

The footage was damning and they were immediately called out for it by players past and present, pundits and punters alike.

WATCH THE INCIDENT BELOW

Former Australian batsman Simon Katich called for the axing of Smith, his deputy Warner and Lehmann.

“I guess from my point of view I think when Cricket Australia front the media, they’ve got no option but to stand and then sack Smith, Warner and Lehmann,” Katich told SEN.

“They’ve got no option because this was premeditated and calculated at the break and those guys are in charge of Cameron Bancroft behaving the way he did.

“It’s a bigger problem than that, he’s been instructed to do this and anyone in cricket knows the captain and coach are responsible for what happens in the team.”

Former Australian one-day star Jimmy Maher was left stunned by the actions of the Australian team, telling Fox Sports News it was a sad day for the sport.

“I just can’t believe it. It’s definitely a very embarrassing day for Australian cricket,” Maher said.

“It’s a day of national shame that our team that represents us all, who we’re so proud of, has let everyone down with the actions overnight.

“It’s a sad day for cricket in the country and the world to see this happen. What’s the game coming to when we’ve got to resort to those sort of tactics.”

Social media lit up when the footage emerged.

“WHAT THE.... HAVE I JUST WOKEN UP TO. Please tell me this is a bad dream,” wrote former Australian captain Michael Clarke.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan declared the stain and stigma of this sorry affair would stick to Australian captain Steve Smith, his players and the entire touring party for their entire careers.

“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,” Vaughan wrote.

“All the leadership group are involved in this.

“They still cheated and should have very serious consequences.”

Vaughan then posted a poll asking whether Smith should be removed as captain of the Australian team — with 90 per cent calling for him to be axed.

That is a position former Australian fast bowler Rodney Hogg supported, declaring that the “blatant cheating” would have to end Smith’s captaincy.

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

Unfortunately this is blatant cheating and Steve Smith will have to step down as Australian captain. — Rodney Hogg (@RMHogg) March 24, 2018

This is a terrible day for Australian cricket.



This stain will take a lot of removing. — Peter Lalor (@plalor) March 24, 2018

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

Recently retired England star Kevin Pietersen described the coming days as coach Darren Lehmann’s “greatest test as a coach” — although the Australian team denied Lehmann had any knowledge or influence over the ball-tampering tactic.

Current Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn, who is pushing to be fit for the fourth and final Test, said Smith and Lehmann were both culpable.

“You know nothing in professional sport is done without the consent of your captain and coach,” Steyn wrote.

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

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

Maher - a good friend and former Queensland teammate of Lehmann’s - threw his support behind the national coach and said he would be shocked to learn if the former Test batsman had any influence over this behaviour.

“I would be shocked. No I don’t (think he had anything to do with it),” Maher added.

“He’s a great friend of mine and I would back him to the hilt 100 per cent.

“He’s a champion bloke, a great coach and a good friend. I would be extremely amazed if he had any part to do with that.”