Former Australia cricket captain Steve Smith broke down in tears during a press conference after apologising for the ball-tampering scandal that has resulted in him being banned from international cricket for a year.
Smith was part of a three-man plan to cheat during the third Test against South Africa last weekend, with vice-captain David Warner being blamed by Cricket Australia for orchestrating the incident that lead to young batsman Cameron Bancroft rubbing sandpaper on the ball in an illegal attempt to artificially produce reverse swing.
Having been caught on television cameras, Bancroft attempted to hide the sandpaper down his trousers, and after a full investigation was carried out by Cricket Australia, all three players have been banned from international and state cricket – both Smith and Warner received one-year bans while Bancroft was handed a nine-month suspension.
Cricketer Cameron Bancroft seen with object while handling the ball
Smith flew back from Johannesburg to Sydney on Thursday and held a press conference soon after his arrival, in which he gave a tearful statement before inviting questions from the media.
"I know I will regret this for the rest of my life. I am absolutely gutted. I'm sorry and I'm absolutely devastated,” Smith said.
"To my knowledge this has never happened before. This is the first time I've seen this happen and I can assure you it will never happen again.
"I don't blame anyone. I'm the captain of the Australian team, it's on my watch and I take responsibility for what happened in Cape Town last Saturday.
"I know I'll regret this for the rest of my life, I'm absolutely gutted. I hope in time I can earn back respect and forgiveness.
Steve Smith broke down in tears after apologising for the Australia ball-tampering scandal (Getty)
"I've been so privileged and honoured to represent my country and captain Australia. Cricket is the greatest game in the world and it's been my life - I hope it can be again. I'm absolutely devastated."
Already emotional, Smith began to tear up as the media began asking him questions surrounding the incident, and when asked what message he would send to children who aspire to be an international cricket player, Smith started to answer before completely breaking down.
"I'll say two things... three things. Firstly, I'm deeply sorry, I love the game of cricket, I love entertaining young kids, I love kids wanting to play the great game of cricket that I love.
"The two other things is: any time you think about making a questionable decision, think about who you're affecting. You're affecting your parents and to see the way my old man's been... it hurts."
Smith did not react well to referencing the affect that the incident has had on his parents (Getty)
The reference to his parents triggered Smith to pause and start crying again, before he added: "I can't remember what else."
"I just want to say I'm sorry for the pain that I guess I've brought to Australia and the fans and the public. It's devastating and I'm truly sorry."
Smith’s tearful appearance came after Bancroft held a press conference of his own in Perth to apologise for his actions and decisions, and also to admit that he lied in his initial press conference last Saturday when he said that he had rubbed sticky tape covered in dirt on the ball and not sandpaper, as it transpired to be.
Warner also issued a statement to apologise for his actions that he admitted were a “stain on the game”, although the former vice-captain posted it on Twitter rather than hold a press conference like his two teammates.
An emotional Smith said that the scandal will live with him for the rest of his life (Getty)
While many called for all three players to be banned, the length and severity of the suspensions has triggered some surprise and sympathy in the cricket world. Both Smith and Warner have lost their places in the Indian Premier League this season after organisers decided to kick them out of the competition, while Bancroft is unlikely to be able to play for Somerset in this year’s county championship season.
The Australian Cricketers’ Association [ACA] has also weighed in on the matter by claiming that Cricket Australia’s investigation process displayed a number of “glaring and clear anomalies” and questioned the decision to put Bancroft and Smith up in front of the media so soon after the incident took place – although others believe that it was right for the players involved to front up and take responsibility for what they had done.
"It is right that these mistakes are sanctioned, and that must occur in a fair and proper way,” the ACA said in a statement.
"The national game we all love must always demonstrate standards and behaviours consistent with both the rules, and the spirit, of cricket.
The former Australia captain struggled to answer questions from the media (Getty)
"And the game must be supported by rigorous and fair processes.
"There are a number of glaring and clear anomalies in the process to date which causes the ACA to query the severity and proportionality of the proposed sanctions."
All three players have a week to appeal the bans if they believe that they do not represent a fair punishment for the offences committed, meaning that any decision must be taken by next Wednesday.
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Australian cricket broke down in tears as a shattered Steve Smith took full responsibility for the ball-tampering crisis that has engulfed a nation and a similarly emotional Darren Lehmann fell on his sword as coach. Lies and deceit made way for anguish and penance in Sydney, Perth and Johannesburg on Thursday.
The scandal that has resulted in Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being hit with lengthy bans from the sport for cheating – and ultimately left in disgrace – bottomed out. Smith, speaking on his arrival back in New South Wales from South Africa and after being stripped of the captaincy for failing to stop Bancroft tampering with the ball under orders from Warner, cut a sorry figure. The 28-year-old was barely able to control his tears as, with his father, Peter, alongside him, he apologised.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann quits in wake of ball-tampering scandal Read more
“To fans of cricket all over the world and to all Australians who are disappointed and angry: I’m sorry,” said Smith, as the camera flash bulbs crackled away at the former Test captain’s every pained convulsion.
“I want to make it clear as captain of the Australian cricket team I take full responsibility. I made a serious error of judgment and I now understand the consequences. It was a failure of leadership, of my leadership.”
Smith added that, to his knowledge, the ball tampering during the 322-run defeat by South Africa in Cape Town was a first from his team. Now banned for a year and from captaincy for two, he put his huge error of judgment down to the fact “good people make mistakes”.
When the world’s No 1 Test batsman – a player feted as the new Don Bradman – was then asked what he would say to a young supporter, he replied: “Firstly, that I’m deeply sorry. I love the game of cricket, I love entertaining young kids, I love kids wanting to play the great game of cricket that I love.
“Any time you think about making a questionable decision, think about who you’re affecting. You’re affecting your parents and to see the way my old man has been, and my mum, it hurts.
“I just want to say I’m sorry for the pain I have brought to Australia, the fans and the public. It’s devastating and I’m truly sorry.”
Watching these raw scenes, and those from a similarly contrite press conference held by Bancroft in Perth, the team’s coach, Lehmann, decided his time, too, was up. The fourth and final Test with South Africa at the Wanderers that starts today, with the hosts 2-1 up, will be his last in charge.
The 48-year-old had been cleared of involvement in the events at Newlands last Saturday when Bancroft was caught on camera applying sandpaper to the ball in the desperate pursuit of reverse swing for the bowlers.
Play Video 0:58 Cricket Australia CEO: Cheating is an appropriate word to use – video
On Wednesday, Lehmann had spoken of rebuilding the team’s culture. But after consulting his family, and in response to what he described as abuse directed at them from the public, he called time on a five-year reign that has returned two home Ashes wins and the World Cup in 2015.
“I really felt for Steve as I saw him crying in front of the media and all of the players are really hurting,” said Lehmann, welling up as he spoke. “As I’ve stated before, I had no prior knowledge of the incident and do not condone what happened at all, but good people can make mistakes.
“My family and I have copped a lot of abuse and it’s taken its toll. As many of you in this room will know, life on the road means a lot of time away from our loved ones and, after speaking with my family at length over the last few days, it’s the right time to step away.”
Bancroft, the apparent stooge in the operation, learned yesterday he would not be joining Somerset for the county season during his nine-month ban. Eight Tests into an international career that was yet to catch fire, the 25-year-old admitted a long road back lies ahead. He said: “It is something I will look to improve on and earn the respect back of the community. I’ve worked so hard to get to this point in my career and to know I’ve just given somebody else an opportunity for free is devastating for me.”
Bancroft declined to respond when asked whether he had been bullied into the scheme by Warner, the fiery vice-captain of Australia, whom his governing body painted as ring-leader.
Warner, facing the possible end of his international career and having been barred from leadership roles once his year-long ban expires, spoke only briefly on arriving in Sydney with his wife, Candice, and their two daughters.
Describing “a tough and emotional time” for his family, the 31-year-old said he would have his say in the next couple of days. In an earlier statement on social media he had apologised for his part in the scandal and added: “I need to take a deep breath and spend time with my family, friends and trusted advisers.”
Why did Smith and Bancroft have to front up, only to break down? | Andy Bull Read more
The question now is whether an appeal against his punishment, and those for Smith and Bancroft, follows. The Australian players’ union has already called into question the process by which the three were dealt with and the severity of the sanctions when compared with the one-match ban for Smith from the ICC.
That punishment, which also resulted in fines for the captain and Bancroft, was met with widespread derision, despite sitting within the governing body’s code of conduct. Ball tampering is considered a minor infringement by the laws of the game too, given it incurs a mere five-run penalty.
The International Cricket Council’s chief executive, David Richardson, announced a review of the code is under way. “We have seen a number of incidents of poor player behaviour in recent weeks which has included ugly sledging, send-offs, dissent against umpires’ decisions, a walk-off and ball tampering,” he said.
“This has been perhaps one of the worst periods in recent memory for consistently poor player behaviour and the global outcry in relation to the ball tampering is a clear message to cricket: enough is enough.”
Former Australia captain Steve Smith breaks down in tears as he apologises for his part in the ball-tampering scandal.
READ MORE: Smith, Warner and Bancroft apologise
