The Test Series between South Africa and Australia was taken to a different dimension at the weekend and has dominated sporting headlines since.
On Saturday, day three of the Cape Town Test match against South Africa, opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was caught by television cameras using a foreign object on the ball, with the intention of tampering with it so that the bowlers could get more deviation from it.
He then quickly hid what looked like sandpaper down his trousers, before admitting to ball tampering in the post-match press conference, alongside captain Steve Smith, who said that the entire leadership team were complicit in the plot.
Smith has since been handed a one-Test ban by the ICC, fined 100% of his match fee and resigned as captain of Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming IPL. Bancroft has received a 75% fine for his actions, but that almost certainly won’t be the end of it, especially as Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has demanded an investigation.
We’ve collated some of the best reactions from twitter after the incident.
The Barmy Army
Never slow to mince their words, England’s Barmy Army will no doubt chant this to Steve Smith during the next Ashes Series.
Steve Smith is an Aussie
He wears a baggy cap
And when he saw some sticky tape
He said I’m having that…
He gave it Cameron Bancroft
Who rubbed it on the ball
Those cheating Aussie convicts
They’ll never change at all!Credit: @SJL_81
— England’s Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) March 25, 2018
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times weren’t shy of clamping down on Australia’s behaviour.
Sunday TIMES Sport: “CHEATS” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/bcZ5SAwqIQ
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) March 24, 2018
Kevin Pietersen
Former England batsman KP aired his views on the matter and thinks that there should be a mass cull of personnel in the Australian dressing room.
Slept on it…Lehmann, Saker & the leaderships groups jobs are untenable!
They’ve disgraced a great cricketing nation & Test cricket!
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 25, 2018
Michael Clarke
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke was appalled by the actions of the players and didn’t rule out a return to the Test arena if Smith is relieved of his duties.
WHAT THE …….. HAVE I JUST WOKEN UP TO. Please tell me this is a bad dream.
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 24, 2018
The Australian
The front page of Monday’s Australian newspaper didn’t hold back.
Big front page of the @australian on a big news day pic.twitter.com/dpsLR1wHFA
— Scott Henry (@scoopnewsworthy) March 25, 2018
Herald Sun
Neither did the Herald Sun, who echo many sentiments.
Today’s @theheraldsun front page pic.twitter.com/SVDHA2jkkZ
— damon johnston (@damonheraldsun) March 25, 2018
NT News
The local newspaper for the Northern Territories went for a more poetic front page.
OH DEAR … TOMORROW’S FRONT PAGE pic.twitter.com/gnudHxk8zs
— The NT News (@TheNTNews) March 25, 2018
Michael Vaughan
Former England captain Michael Vaughan went on a Twitter tirade about the incident, criticising the ICC and Australia’s senior players for allowing such an incident to take place.
1 Match Ban & 100 % March fee Fine for Smith #ffs … 75% match fee fine for Bancroft and some bloody De merit points for Bancroft … Pathetic penalties for CHEATING … Surely this moment was the time to set a precedent … !!?? All the team should be penalised ..
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 25, 2018
How the hell has the Vice Captain of this Australian Team & all the Leadership group not been penalised !!!!!!! #SAvAUS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 25, 2018
What I find appalling in all this is the Youngster got given the Job .. Was it because someone in the team had been accused of using Hand tape for a similar affect !!!!!!! So they wanted someone else to take the mantle …. Disgraceful behaviour by senior pros … #SAvAUS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 24, 2018
Henry Blofeld
One of cricket’s greatest orators also offered his thoughts on the incident, going so far as to label the Australian actions as “a cancer”.
It’s the saddest & most unbelievable cricket crisis ever. An Australian captain openly admits cheating & then says he’s not going to resign the job. Poor old Jim Maxwell. His tearful reaction that of a true sportsman. I wonder how much the vice-captain had to do with all this
— Henry Blofeld (@blowersh) March 25, 2018
Smith & Warner should never be allowed to play again. Lehman must go & Bancroft tho he was presumably sucked in & to curry favour went along with it. Like match-fixing, ball tampering is a cancer and those caught, must be completely cut out. Aussie PM’s reaction was spot on.
— Henry Blofeld (@blowersh) March 25, 2018
