JOHANNESBURG- Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland announced late on Tuesday that captain Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and opening batsman Cameron Bancroft will leave South Africa on Wednesday after the weekend’s ball-tampering scandal.
The trio will be replaced for the upcoming fourth test against the Proteas and the replacements will be on their way to South Africa after their selectons have been confirmed.
Smith admitted to masterminding the ball-tampering in an astonishing press conference on Saturday, saying it was in an effort to gain an advantage over South Africa.
The ICC sanctions of fining Australian captain Steve Smith 100% of his match fee and suspended him for one Test match, while batsman Cameron Bancroft has been fined 75% of his match fee and handed three demerit points for their involvement in the ball tampering scandal have been criticized by some as being lenient.
Sutherland said, “The key finding is that prior knowledge of the ball tampering incident was limited to three players, captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.”
He added that coach Darren Lenham had no prior knowledge of the plot by the three players involved and will remain in his post.
Watch- Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland briefing the media
Photo Credit-Newstalk ZB
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