Adam Voges, who served as a leader for Cameron Bancroft in the Big Bash League (BBL) hinted the latter was forced to tamper with the ball while not shying away from maintaining the opening batsman could go beyond any extent for the side.
“Cameron Bancroft is the kind of guy that would do anything for the team. “But if the team asks Cameron to do something he’ll do it for them,” Cricket Australia quotes Voges.
Experienced Australian cricketer Voges further suggested Bancroft could have morally ignored the idea. He led Western Australia, the same side 25-year-old Bancroft is representing.
“That probably sums up his willingness to do something that I’m sure morally and ethically was against what he wanted to do,” Voges said.
Pertinently, Bancroft was caught while changing the condition of the ball with the use of a yellow object. It further turned out to be the tape. The admission of an offense including skipper Steven Smith in a post-day three press conference irked fans worldwide.
The top-order batsman Adam Voges reacted he was taken by surprise while watching a player like Bancroft being involved in the controversy.
“It’s completely out of his character. My initial reaction is that certainly wasn’t an idea he came up with by himself,” Voges added.
The 38-year-old Voges revealed he was saddened by the visuals which appeared during the third day’s play of Cape Town Test.
“I was completely shattered when I saw the footage and being in the press conference with Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft last night and [watching] them admit guilt of trying to alter the condition of the ball,” Voges reiterated.
It subsequently resulted in a one-match suspension of Smith including 100 percent match fee. The world cricket body ICC further hands three demerit points to Bancroft while charging him with the match fee of 75 percent.
While reacting to the blatant on-field cheating, Voges stated it was not meant to be the ‘character’ of Bancroft to alter the cherry.
The Australian opener Bancroft also tendered the public apology after accepting the fault. Moreover, Smith maintained it was the tactic of the team owing to the ‘leadership group’ plan.
Voges, who represented Australia in 31 One-day Internationals, 20 Tests and seven T20Is for Australia. He had somewhat empathy for his teammate Bancfort.
In the penultimate Test, South Africa rout the Kangaroos with a 322-run win after visitors were bowled out for 107 in second innings. Bancroft scored 26 in the second innings after 77 runs off 103 in first innings.
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