Cricket Banter

Of the three players, I would say Warner could the one sanctioned hardest but I do feel the whole thing will likely some people at CA will be forced out too. At the same time I find it incredible that Lehman has kept his job, and that he didn't know what was going on, so Sutherland should have apologised to cricket fans everywhere. I would say his own position is probably being questioned by many in Australia too.

It certainly has been one of cricket's darkest days for some time.

Most people seem incredulous Lehman kept his job. Smith’s past cheating is also under scrutiny as it seems he was caught looking up at the team box in one test match before he decided whether to use one of his challenges for an LBW. That clearly means he could have received a signal based upon a viewing of a replay in the box.

Odds are that Warner will never play for Australia again and the others will get 1 year bans.

Questions also being asked about the bowlers who seemingly never noticed that the ball they were using seemed to be changing rather quickly.

Congratulations to an ex South Africa player working on TV who was suspicious that the ball was reverse swinging so early in the innings and asked a cameraman to focus on the Aussie fielders.

Warner and Smith have been given 12 month bans from all cricket and Warner has been told he will not be eligible ever again for a Test Team leadership role. Bancroft has got a 9 month ban.

Thats gong to cost them financially as well as I suspect in addition to losing IPL and Test money their personal sponsers will terminate contracts.

Cricket Australia are in the middle of negotiating their next TV contracts and before this issue arose had rejected the latest proposals. I doubt they will be in such a strong position now.

What a coincidence Smith first test back if he made the squad would be the first ashes test

So they used sandpaper on the ball and not dirt collected with yellow tape as previously claimed. Even their confession was a lie.

Warner has been held to be the person who devised and developed the ball altering plan.

Cricket Australia have really bottled it on this occasion, they had the chance to send out a strong message to the cricketing world that cheating will not be tolerated, instead smith, warner and bancroft will take a nice well earned holiday and come back refreshed and raring to go, just in time for the ashes and world cup.

(28-03-2018 14:46 )lancealot790 Wrote:  smith, warner and bancroft will take a nice well earned holiday and come back refreshed and raring to go, just in time for the ashes and world cup.

I think you're in dreamland with that comment. I think there's a strong chance that Warner will never play for Australia again. Bancroft's place in the side is marginal anyway, so he might not be seen at test level again either. Plus Bancroft's never been picked by Australia for ODIs before, so why would he suddenly be picked for the world cup?

You are probably right about Warner as he is not particularly well liked by the the Aussie public and has been cast as the main villain of the peace, Bancroft on the other hand was being groomed as warners opening partner and may still make the ashes squad if he performs well on returning from his ban. Smith will almost certainly make both squads, thats why he agreed to an immediate ban so it ends just in time for both events.

So it was Warner's idea to use the sandpaper, and he talked Bancroft into doing it... doh!..... stupid boy

The 1 year ban from all cricket will cost Smith over £2m and Warner not far short of that just in their Australian Test contract & appearance fees plus their lost IPL contracts