2018 Tour of South Africa

[Twodogs]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Smith and Bancroft have admitted to trying to cheat. Staggering for this to happen. Incredible

Unbelievable to be so amateurish and brazen about it! What the hell did they think they were doing?

[GVGjr]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Smith and Bancroft have admitted to trying to cheat. Staggering for this to happen. Incredible

It's a blight on the game, I hope we take the strongest possible action against every player involved. I'm not sure what that will be.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

This is a very serious incident for cricket in Australia and while I don't think Bancroft would have masterminded it he should pay a hefty penalty for his actions. There was obviously a concerted effort by the leadership group which means Smith, Warner, Lyon and maybe the 3 quicks were involved or at least knew about it...Perhaps the whole team was involved.

There is a possibility that we could concede the test and the next one. This could even put a number of players future in jeopardy.

We have often prided ourselves on playing the game hard but fair but we can no longer take the moral high ground.

This might sound harsh but I don't think Smith can lead this in the short term. I'd question if he should even be allowed to play as the captain again.

[westdog54]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Normally I'm prepared to defend Australian athletes, but oh boy, this one's got me steamed.

Smith absolutely cannot remain captain. No way, no how. It wouldn't surprise me to see him suspended.

Bancroft will be suspended. No getting around it.

If the whole team was involved and no one objected, the whole team should be fined their match fee.

This is a disgraceful act.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Normally I'm prepared to defend Australian athletes, but oh boy, this one's got me steamed.

Smith absolutely cannot remain captain. No way, no how. It wouldn't surprise me to see him suspended.

Bancroft will be suspended. No getting around it.

If the whole team was involved and no one objected, the whole team should be fined their match fee.

This is a disgraceful act.

I don't think a fine cuts it if there are multiple players involved. It's probably what will happen but it isn't a strong enough penalty for me.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

This is a very serious incident for cricket in Australia and while I don't think Bancroft would have masterminded it he should pay a hefty penalty for his actions. There was obviously a concerted effort by the leadership group which means Smith, Warner, Lyon and maybe the 3 quicks were involved or at least knew about it...Perhaps the whole team was involved.

There is a possibility that we could concede the test and the next one. This could even put a number of players future in jeopardy.

We have often prided ourselves on playing the game hard but fair but we can no longer take the moral high ground.

This might sound harsh but I don't think Smith can lead this in the short term. I'd question if he should even be allowed to play as the captain again.

Normally I'm prepared to defend Australian athletes, but oh boy, this one's got me steamed.

Smith absolutely cannot remain captain. No way, no how. It wouldn't surprise me to see him suspended.

Bancroft will be suspended. No getting around it.

If the whole team was involved and no one objected, the whole team should be fined their match fee.

This is a disgraceful act.

Agreed. You know it's long been my opinion that Steve Smith isn't the man to be leading the Australian cricket team. I don't like the fact he was off field for most of the last session last night either. He was obviously in meetings with management over this but his place was out on the field leading the team. Steve Smith's role as captain is untenable, he must step down.

And whoever is found to be involved should face extra sanctions from Cricket Australia as well as whatever the ICC hand out.

[ledge]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

My take .. 1 why did smith try and deflect the blame into it was a leadership group decision ?
2 he is captain he makes the decisions, be a man and don't blame others.
3 it looks like Lehman was in on it as well , trying to hide he was on a walkie talkie talking to handscomb and sending him out to Bancroft to tell him the secret was out.
4 the actual act isn't the real Problem, it's the fact of the conspiracy and the team and coach being involved.
5 Bancroft straight out tried to hide it then lied by pulling out a sunglasses cover and saying that's all he had.
This is disgusting and I can't see how most of the team can play test cricket again and how does Lehman keep his job ?
6 and smith sooked about a shoulder tap ??

[Ozza]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Staggering story to wake up to.
Didn’t like that Smith immediately handed over to Bancroft to explain. And didn’t like the recurring references to leadership group.
I don’t know what to say at what they have tried to do, how they have planned to do it in a break of play (rather than an ‘error in the heat of battle’ - and how they could possibly think they’d not get caught doing it.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Staggering story to wake up to.
Didn’t like that Smith immediately handed over to Bancroft to explain. And didn’t like the recurring references to leadership group.
I don’t know what to say at what they have tried to do, how they have planned to do it in a break of play (rather than an ‘error in the heat of battle’ - and how they could possibly think they’d not get caught doing it.

It's a very poor effort on his behalf.
My read on this is:
Smith and the leadership group hatched a very poor plan and dragged Bancroft into it. More fool Bancroft for agreeing to it.
Once caught Smith has come clean but has deliberately been light on the details and in the process seems to have dropped Bancroft into it.


I don't think fines are sufficient for the actions. We also need to know how many are involved.

[ratsmac]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

WTF. I am flat out shocked. This is HUGE. Smith must be stood down as captain and suspended. This is a disgrace and an embarrassment for Australian cricket not to mention completely idiotic.

[westdog54]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

It's a very poor effort on his behalf.
My read on this is:
Smith and the leadership group hatched a very poor plan and dragged Bancroft into it. More fool Bancroft for agreeing to it.
Once caught Smith has come clean but has deliberately been light on the details and in the process seems to have dropped Bancroft into it.


I don't think fines are sufficient for the actions. We also need to know how many are involved.

If Lehmann was involved he's out the door too.

Whoever the "Leadership group" is (why you need a leadership group in a team of 11 + 1 beyond a Captain and VC is beyond me, a discussion for another time) gets suspended as well. Anyone who followed along without objecting is fined their match fee at a bare minimum.

This test and the next should be played out but forfeited to SA for the purposes of ranking points.

Any possible sympathy any players might have had in regards to behaviour of opposition players and spectators just got pissed against the wall.

[Twodogs]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

It's a very poor effort on his behalf.
My read on this is:
Smith and the leadership group hatched a very poor plan and dragged Bancroft into it. More fool Bancroft for agreeing to it.
Once caught Smith has come clean but has deliberately been light on the details and in the process seems to have dropped Bancroft into it.


I don't think fines are sufficient for the actions. We also need to know how many are involved.

Unfortunately I think the penalties ard sanctioned and the players have to be the same as Faf got for doing the same thing last year. I'd like to add on a bit for their stupidity but I don't think I'm going to get my wish.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

Unfortunately I think the penalties ard sanctioned and the players have to be the same as Faf got for doing the same thing last year. I'd like to add on a bit for their stupidity but I don't think I'm going to get my wish.

I think the difference is what Faf did was done by himself. Smith and the leadership group have roped Bancroft into it and initially tried to hide it from the umpires when questioned.

We should forfeit the test and the players concerned stood down. Lets see if CA can do the right thing

[GVGjr]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

If Lehmann was involved he's out the door too.

Whoever the "Leadership group" is (why you need a leadership group in a team of 11 + 1 beyond a Captain and VC is beyond me, a discussion for another time) gets suspended as well. Anyone who followed along without objecting is fined their match fee at a bare minimum.

This test and the next should be played out but forfeited to SA for the purposes of ranking points.

Any possible sympathy any players might have had in regards to behaviour of opposition players and spectators just got pissed against the wall.

I agree if Lehmann is concerned he should resign but Smith has made it clear it was some players.
I think you have assessed this correctly.

It's now a huge test for CA.

[Bornadog]

Re: 2018 Tour of South Africa

I cannot stand any cheating especially in Sports, and shocked that an Austraian team would do this.

Not sure about penalties etc, but cricket Australia must make an example of these players.