Things have gone only spiralling down for Australian captain Steve Smith, the past 24 hours. South Africa was running away with the game at Cape Town with a massive lead in the second innings.
With the match moving out of reach of the Australians, the so-called leadership group featuring Smith and vice-captain David Warner resorted to unfair means and brought disrepute to their cricketing culture.
For those unaware of the sequence of events which unfolded during the post-lunch session on Day 3, the prime perpetrator of the ‘Sandpaper gate’, Cameron Bancroft, used a foreign object on the ball, which was smuggled to the park in his pocket.
Bancroft was caught on the camera rubbing the yellow paper on the ball to scruff up the surface, in order to exaggerate the reverse swing. Shockingly, this was a premeditated move made by the Steve Smith and co. prior to the start of the session.
However, after Bancroft’s antics were telecasted at the pavilion, coach Darren Lehmann, through a walkie-talkie, communicated with 12th man Peter Handscomb, to convey the opening batsman that Smith’s little secret experiment has been busted.
Shortly after, Bancroft was seen trying to hide the yellow sandpaper into his underwear before the umpires decided to have a talk with Smith’s scapegoat. Bancroft, instead pulled out a black cloth to deceive the umpire, adding to the disgrace.
The press conference post the day’s play witnessed both Bancroft and Steve Smith blatantly concede to cheating and tampering the ball.
Moreover, Smith’s stupidity was further to be exhibited by the fact that his experiment did not work on the ball as the umpires did not see any foul play which would have forced them to change the ball.
Interestingly, Smith and Warner, later stepped down as captain and vice-captain of the team, following orders from ASC. Subsequently, Smith was handed a one-match ban while Bancroft was set free with a fine of 75% if his match fees and 3 demerit points.
This is not the first time Steve Smith’s integrity has been questioned. During last year’s Border Gavaskar Trophy, Smith looked at the dressing room, after being adjudged leg before, in order to take consultation for taking a review. Yet, he termed the entire fiasco as a ‘brainfade’.
However, Twitter was largely unforgiving for Smith’s latest antics, and continued bashing the Australians for being ‘cheats’.
Here’s a look at some of the reactions
Absolutely shocking & disgraceful! Aussies have a legacy of legends like Steve Waugh, this team should be ashamed, such reputed players setting such bad examples! Urge authorities to take stringent action to save cricket! #SandpaperGate #SteveSmith #SAvsAUS
— Vivek Anand Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) March 25, 2018
That #SteveSmith along with other senior players planned Ball Tampering is disappointing, but he involved young Cameron Bancroft in the plan is disgraceful. I believe he should take responsibility & step down from captaincy immediately to set a better example instead. #AusVsSa
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) March 25, 2018
There are several subtle differences in these two recent press conferences featuring Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith.
Can you spot them?NOTE: the pictures have NOT been tampered with.#SAvAUS #BallTampering #cricketaustralia #SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/t55mvfqAZy
— All about Steve (@1StevieKilner) March 24, 2018
The Aus Cricket team is the worst national team in Australian Sport. Poor sportsmanship, celebrating wickets like a bunch of flogs, no respect for the baggy green, no respect for the game.
The pinnacle of Australian sport goes to @Socceroos #stevesmith #cricketaustralia
— Francis Gonzalez (@fgonzalez_) March 24, 2018
The stain of this is actually worse than the underarm incident. However bad and unsportsmanlike that was, it was at the time at least within the rules. The ramifications of this are so much broader than the immediate penalty. #SteveSmith #RSAvsAUS
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) March 24, 2018
And this ain’t “Underarm 2.0”, because what Trevor Chappell did was legal. #SteveSmith #CricketAustralia
— Virginia Trioli (@LaTrioli) March 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/one_by_two/status/977749716585930752
This isn't the first time a Steve Smith team has cheated. If authorities had listened to Virat Kohli & team India they would have properly punished the cheating out of Australia by now. #stevesmith #SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/FJvV7OatL3
— Asjad Nazir (@asjadnazir) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/EastIndiaComedy/status/977810291101663232
https://twitter.com/nazsvo/status/977632747391823872
No one likes a cheat so when they get caught out there are consequences #balltampering #resign #SteveSmith. As the truth emerges about #Leave dodgy funding, abuse of social media, fake claims & phoney promises, let’s make sure the voters they cheated hold them to account #Brexit
— Anna Soubry (@Anna_Soubry) March 25, 2018
#balltampering issue has put a big question mark on the career of @stevesmith49. The Australian government has stepped in and demanded the sacking of #SteveSmith . Now will @rajasthanroyals making a comeback to #IPL after a ban retain him as captain for IPL2018 ? pic.twitter.com/UYrM8bJhNk
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) March 25, 2018
It took the cricket world one year to agree with Virat Kohli, that Steven Smith is a cheat #SAvAUS #Bancroft #SteveSmith
— Kallol Sarkar (@kallol_ss) March 24, 2018
Australian Captain Steve Smith Admits To Ball Tampering Against SA. Cameron Bancroft Was Handed Over The Task To Tamper The Ball & Australian Leadership Team Knew About It. Shame On Cheater Aussies. All Involved In It Must Be Sacked. #Bancroft #SandpaperGate #SAvsAUS #SteveSmith
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) March 24, 2018
And then they compare this cheat #SteveSmith with Virat Kohli.
This cheat is a disgrace to the game of Cricket.
— A (@IIM_Guy) March 25, 2018
My 7 year old son loves cricket because of #SteveSmith what do I tell him this morning? @CricketAus pic.twitter.com/6d4Q4IJXCc
— Tim Harcourt (@TimHarcourt) March 24, 2018
#SteveSmith:“I can’t believe there’s not a single question about the good cricket being played?” I can’t believe your arrogance @stevesmith49, what good cricket when you try & cheat your way out of this test series? We know you won’t resign but you should be fired !!
— Diederick Stopforth (@DWStopforth) March 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/one_by_two/status/977751508531007488
#SteveSmith
Still my blood fumes up when I remember this incident… pic.twitter.com/PLfWNdDr6o— Utkarsh Karwa (@ukarwa14) March 24, 2018
First 'brain fade', now 'big mistake', #SteveSmith in fresh controversy https://t.co/ng67aRFaGw pic.twitter.com/B891cuqntz
— NDTV (@ndtv) March 25, 2018
Australia Captain #SteveSmith And Vice-captain David Warner Step Down For Rest Of 3rd Test Against SA.
How Can They Be Allowed To Play After Such A Horrific Ball Tampering Incident. Must Be Banned For Lifetime. If You Can't Respect The Game You Have No Right To Play It. #SAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/vE5gW68cw8
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) March 25, 2018
Once a chutiya always a chutiya #SteveSmith will always be remembered as a cheater ???✌️ pic.twitter.com/UiC20Ep9TF
— Bruce Wayne ? (@Cric_Freaky) March 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/LukeWhito/status/977734521532502016
Have penned a few quick thoughts on our ball-tampering disgrace. #SteveSmith #CameronBancroft #Tampering #RSAvsAUS pic.twitter.com/HAtxF2Lemq
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) March 24, 2018
What is all this talk about #SteveSmith resigning as captain only. He cheated and there is no room for cheats in the team. Just quit national cricket.
This isn't parliament where cheats are protected by unfair laws, privilege and corruption, this is sport. #putOutYourSandPaper
— Shaun Branden (@parsect) March 25, 2018
@notdekock Warners strange taping finally makes sence now. This is the first time mmmm. Once a cheat always a cheat. @SACricketmag @Sports_Billy #davidwarner #stevesmith pic.twitter.com/11yl9QQ8H5
— Villas & Safari's – Luxury Travel (@Ryan_Ramage1984) March 24, 2018
The Godfather Down Under:
The captain and 'leadership group' hatch a plan.
They pick a 'hitman' for the 'job'.
Get Busted.
Omerta kicks in.
Will plot, cheat and lie, but wont talk. So honorable.#SandpaperGate #SAvsAUS #Bancroft #SteveSmith #AussieCheats— Kasturi Shankar (@KasthuriShankar) March 24, 2018
Only brave men have the courage to admit their mistakes. #SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/qu2PvklMTf
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) March 25, 2018
"Ball Tampering Didn't Work As The Umpire Didn't Change The Ball So What's The Big Deal, Is Like Shooting A Gun At You And Missing And Saying You're Still Alive So What's The Big Deal" – Michael Holding Just Ripped Apart Aussies Right From The Commentary Box. #SAvsAUS #SteveSmith
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) March 25, 2018
I think #SteveSmith has totally underestimated the ramifications of his appalling actions. He will never ever live this down. 37 yrs ago Greg Chappell ordered his brother Trevor to bowl underarm. What is the first thing we think of when we hear their names all these years later?
— Dr Stuart Edser ?️? Love is everything (@StuartEdser) March 25, 2018
