AUSTRALIA'S BALL-TAMPERING FIASCO
* THE BASICS: Cameron Bancroft admitted to using sticky yellow tape with debris from the pitch on it to attempt to tamper with the ball. After being caught on the big screen, he panicked and shoved the tape down his pants. After play, he admitted his offence to the match referee.
* THE BACKGROUND: Australia's captain Steve Smith admitted after play the plan was hatched at lunch on day three of the third Test by he and the team's leadership group, which has in the past comprised of David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
* THE HISTORY: Australia have never been found guilty of a serious case of ball-tampering before this Test. The most notable case of the matter in recent years came when Pakistan forfeited a Test against England in 2006 when they were accused of the practice. Locally, Victoria copped a five-run penalty in the 2015-16 Sheffield Shield final after assistant coach Mick Lewis was found to have scuffed the ball on a gutter over the boundary.
* THE QUOTE: "I think when Cricket Australia front the media, they've got no option but to stand and then sack Smith, Warner and (coach Darren) Lehmann." - Former Australian batsman Simon Katich, who played 56 Tests between 2001 and 2010.
* THE PUNISHMENT: Cricket Australia will send its head of integrity, Iain Roy to South Africa to investigate, with chief executive James Sutherland yet to guarantee Smith's future as captain. Coach Darren Lehmann could also be under the microscope. Cameron Bancroft faces a large fine and possible one-game ban from the ICC. Australia have Peter Handscomb on tour as a reserve batsman, while Bancroft's opening predecessor Matt Renshaw is playing for Queensland in the Shield final.
* THE TEST: Largely forgotten but Australia are in big trouble on the field too. South Africa are 5-238 in their second innings at stumps on day three, leading by 294 runs.
Share
