2 days - great matches were played (SA vs Aus, Eng vs NZ, Af vs WI and Eng(W) vs Ind (W) ) and yet, one event has taken the attention of the world away from events on the pitch, to events off it!
The 3rd Test in the Australia tour of SA was shaping up to be a great encounter - Dean Elgar refused to bow to the Aussie pressure on his way to 141 not out, the Aussie tail fought hard to move Australia close to the SA total and in the third innings, Markram, ABD and Vernon Philander were doing their best to ensure that the SA lead stretched. In the middle of all that - Cameron Bancroft was caught using some tape or sandpaper to rough up the ball, with the intention of getting swing!
The juniormost team member was caught tampering the ball! The cameras recorded everything, so there was no escape. The team came clean on what happened - Steven Smith saying that the 'leadership group' knew what was happening (the coach was above blame). The fact that this was premeditated and well planned, is the reason why there is so much furor since.
So, what's happened after #SandpaperGate on March 24?
1. Australia lost the test by a huge margin - they are in danger of losing their unbeaten record against SA in SA (post readmission).
2. Steven Smith and David Warner (the 'leadership group' ) was asked to step down for the rest of the Newlands test. They played under Tim Paine.
3. Steven Smith has received a 1 match suspension. He has also effectively been relieved of captaincy on a 'permanent' ish basis.
4. Steven Smith will no longer lead Rajasthan Royals in IPL; David Warner's captaincy at SRH is in doubt too!
5. The Aussies are ashamed of their cricket team, they have been labeled cheats .
6. There is talk of a lifetime ban! That sounds and seems harsh.
It is some ways tragic, that had this not been caught by the cameras, the Aussies would have gotten away with this stunt. But, in the era of constant camera surveillance (and stump mic recordings), what used to pass off as acceptable behavior earlier, is no longer so! Ball tampering in any form, was always cheating, and will continue to be. With the increased scrutiny overall, I guess players need to be trained on how to be at their best at all times , especially on the field.
The 3rd Test in the Australia tour of SA was shaping up to be a great encounter - Dean Elgar refused to bow to the Aussie pressure on his way to 141 not out, the Aussie tail fought hard to move Australia close to the SA total and in the third innings, Markram, ABD and Vernon Philander were doing their best to ensure that the SA lead stretched. In the middle of all that - Cameron Bancroft was caught using some tape or sandpaper to rough up the ball, with the intention of getting swing!
The juniormost team member was caught tampering the ball! The cameras recorded everything, so there was no escape. The team came clean on what happened - Steven Smith saying that the 'leadership group' knew what was happening (the coach was above blame). The fact that this was premeditated and well planned, is the reason why there is so much furor since.
So, what's happened after #SandpaperGate on March 24?
1. Australia lost the test by a huge margin - they are in danger of losing their unbeaten record against SA in SA (post readmission).
2. Steven Smith and David Warner (the 'leadership group' ) was asked to step down for the rest of the Newlands test. They played under Tim Paine.
3. Steven Smith has received a 1 match suspension. He has also effectively been relieved of captaincy on a 'permanent' ish basis.
4. Steven Smith will no longer lead Rajasthan Royals in IPL; David Warner's captaincy at SRH is in doubt too!
5. The Aussies are ashamed of their cricket team, they have been labeled cheats .
6. There is talk of a lifetime ban! That sounds and seems harsh.
It is some ways tragic, that had this not been caught by the cameras, the Aussies would have gotten away with this stunt. But, in the era of constant camera surveillance (and stump mic recordings), what used to pass off as acceptable behavior earlier, is no longer so! Ball tampering in any form, was always cheating, and will continue to be. With the increased scrutiny overall, I guess players need to be trained on how to be at their best at all times , especially on the field.
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