Baggy Green ball tampering: Bancroft, Smith and the Aussie "Leadership Group"

[the big bambino]

I see Smith has been suspended but Bancroft got sanctioned. Don't know about Warner. Smith definitely had to go but I'm ok with Bancroft getting a sanction. As a young man with a tenuous hold on his spot I think he was exploited. It is one of the seedier aspects of the leadership group's underhandedness. Asking a young a bloke to cheat for you and take the fall is a low act. Also I can't believe they didn't have a plan b if they were caught. The press conference was proof of that. We could've had half the side suspended after that. Its ironic, but if a bloke is going to cheat he should have the character to take all the blame if the team is caught.

I said earlier that it looks like Smith needed to stand down but I didn't expect CA to do it mid match. I mean we still had a test to play and we just may have saved something from it with a 4th innings that showed some fight. Not even that (and for some reason annoys me just as much as the ball tampering). Now I see they may contemplate life bans. Great work CA. For some reason they think an over reaction is the solution to a lack of foresight.

As an aside I look very differently now on Smith and his previous attempt to gain an advantage on a DRS appeal. He tried to blow away the criticisms here like he did then but it looks like now that he does have a problem with cheating. If he was suspended then maybe he would have learned his lesson.

 

[Adders]

Snap out of it Australia sth Africa ball tampers wear sunny bill mask's make disgusting comments about Warners wife but we make a mistake and all the big noter's hit the press even our two faced liar of a prime minister wants publicity we gave sth Africa what it deserved but in modern Australia its kick people when they are down and Shane warne biggest embarrassment in Australian cricket history and the rest should shut up wake up and stick by our team

 

[Adders]

.

 

[howardj]

Man, what a fall from grace for Steve Smith

He's a wonderful young man, and a great batsman who was being talked about as second to Bradman

Now his reputation is in ruins

Illustrates why jails are full, I guess.... - good people do stupid things

 

[Shri]

Seriously, is that really necessary?

No but its edgy.

 

[vicleggie]

Man, what a fall from grace for Steve Smith

He's a wonderful young man, and a great batsman who was being talked about as second to Bradman

Now his reputation is in ruins

Illustrates why jails are full, I guess.... - good people do stupid things

What makes him a good person?

 

[Adders]

Man, what a fall from grace for Steve Smith

He's a wonderful young man, and a great batsman who was being talked about as second to Bradman

Now his reputation is in ruins

Illustrates why jails are full, I guess.... - good people do stupid things

Genuinely interested as to why you think he's a "wonderful young man"? I don't know the guy from a bar of soap so he may very well be, but that is certainly not the impression I've been getting from him the last few years. In the top 5 most dislikeable cricketers in my book.

 

[Larwood's_boots]

What makes him a good person?

Turning down a contract with surrey always bumps you up a moral notch in my book

 

[straw man]

Grade Cricketer Podcast on this is good

 

[NZTailender]

If/when Smith loses the captaincy, it does set up a hell of a redemption story in the long run.

Fast forward to 2028. Smith, nearing 40, has been facing rumours about retirement. He's the elder statesman of the batting unit. He can't take part in leadership roles, but can still score truckloads of runs. He's closing in on 20k Test runs.

Australia are on tour. Their captain Alex Carey has just emotionally quit after an embarrassing defeat in the 1st Test of an overseas tour, after a string of bad losses and mounting pressure. He was the 7th captain to be tried after infamous 2018 series in South Africa. Some ask for their most successful captain, Adam Zampa, to be reinstated, given his undefeated record in his solitary two Tests ever played (both as captain), two rain affected draws vs Sri Lanka.

However, public opinion has finally shifted. Smith is talked about as taking up the role after years staying out of the limelight. He's a born again Christian, a tutor of underprivileged kids at the Cameron Burge School of Kids Who Can't Cricket Good and Want To Do Good At Other Sports, Redfern. He's teetotal and writes a weekly column about gardening and DIY. In Australia's hour of need, in a foreign land, he's the man they need, though not the one they deserve.

He reluctantly takes up the captaincy, much to the disappointment of spinner-turned-opener, Ashton Turner, the other elder statesman in the side.

With 100 runs to reach 20,000 runs, Smith gets a disappointing duck in his first dig as Australia end up 100 runs behind. After an inspirational talk from Shane Warne's digital avatar, Smith bowls himself and picks up 8fer, then plays an inspirational rearguard with Australia's number 11, Brad Hogg Jnr in just his 3rd game (and Australia's first spinner to play more than 2 Tests since Lyon's retirement). As Smith hits the winnings runs, and coincidentally, brings up his 100 and 20k runs, tears run down his cheeks as he waves his 25kg Burger McKentucky Fried King bat to the crowd, as the disgrace and shame of the South Africa series is forgiven by the Australian public at large.Tears roll down Davey Warner's cheeks, too, as he watches at home on his 300" B-LED TV (made from the eyes of bees for highest resolution possible). Warner looks over at a faded photo of Darren Lehmann stuck to his wall with yellow tape and mutters "we did it, Boof, we did it. Rest in peace."

Australia celebrate their first away win in 5 years, drawing the series, and their first ever win over Afghanistan, which brings them to #17 in the ICC Test Rankings.

 

[Shri]

If the tampering laws were changed to reflect reality, would people still be this pissed?

 

[the big bambino]

Not liking the way Boof is lying low. That's not leadership. He looks like he's trying to hide.

 

[vicleggie]

If/when Smith loses the captaincy, it does set up a hell of a redemption story in the long run.

Fast forward to 2028. Smith, nearing 40, has been facing rumours about retirement. He's the elder statesman of the batting unit. He can't take part in leadership roles, but can still score truckloads of runs. He's closing in on 20k Testruns.

Australia are on tour. Their captain Alex Carey has just emotionally quit after an embarrassing defeat in the 1st Test of an overseas tour, after a string of bad losses and mounting pressure. He was the 7th captain to be tried after infamous 2018 series in South Africa. Some ask for their most successful captain, Adam Zampa, to be reinstated, given his undefeated record in his solitary two Tests ever played (both as captain), two rain affected draws vs Sri Lanka.

However, public opinion has finally shifted. Smith is talked about as taking up the role after years staying out of the limelight. He's a born again Christian, a tutor of underprivileged kids at the Cameron Burge School of Kids Who Can't Cricket Good and Want To Do Good At Other Sports, Redfern. He's teetotal and writes a weekly column about gardening and DIY. In Australia's hour of need, in a foreign land, he's the man they need, though not the one they deserve.

He reluctantly takes up the captaincy, much to the disappointment of spinner-turned-opener, Ashton Turner, the other elder statesman in the side.

With 100 runs to reach 20,000 runs, Smith gets a disappointing duck in his first dig as Australia end up 100 runs behind. After an inspirational talk from Shane Warne's digital avatar, Smith bowls himself and picks up 8fer, then plays an inspirational rearguard with Australia's number 11, Brad Hogg Jnr in just his 3rd game (and Australia's first spinner to play more than 2 Tests since Lyon's retirement). As Smith hits the winnings runs, and coincidentally, brings up his 100 and 20k runs, tears run down his cheeks as he waves his 25kg Burger McKentucky Fried King bat to the crowd, as the disgrace and shame of the South Africa series is forgiven by the Australian public at large.Tears roll down Davey Warner's cheeks, too, as he watches at home on his 300" B-LED TV (made from the eyes of bees for highest resolution possible). Warner looks over at a faded photo of Darren Lehmann stuck to his wall with yellow tape and mutters "we did it, Boof, we did it. Rest in peace."

Australia celebrate their first away win in 5 years, drawing the series, and their first ever win over Afghanistan, which brings them to #17 in the ICC Test Rankings.

No one will give a **** about test cricket by then.

Great Victorians Maxi and Finch will be the pin up boys of Australian sport for their BBL prowess

 

[GotSpin]

Has he come out and said a single thing yet?

 

[the big bambino]

Has he come out and said a single thing yet?

Only on a walkie talkie then silence ...

 

[outbreak]

Why do people think they deserve long bans? I've seen some in this thread say 1 year bans and the like. Makes no sense considering other players guilty of ball tampering get 1 match or no ban at all. Faf was guilty twice (once using his zipper to scratch a ball too i believe) and afaik he only got fines both times?

For me Smith and Warner should be done as captains but long bans just don't fit with what other players have received as punishment for similar offences.

I believe Smith when he says this is the first time they've done this, but when he says that I think he is referring to using the tape and I'm sure they've done other illegal things to the ball in the past (like the video of Bancroft during the ashes filling his pocket with sugar) and i'm sure a lot of teams have methods (like faf's mints and zipper/warner's long finger nail and tape etc).

 

[Larwood's_boots]

Why do people think they deserve long bans? I've seen some in this thread say 1 year bans and the like. Makes no sense considering other players guilty of ball tampering get 1 match or no ban at all. Faf was guilty twice (once using his zipper to scratch a ball too i believe) and afaik he only got fines both times?

For me Smith and Warner should be done as captains but long bans just don't fit with what other players have received as punishment for similar offences.

I believe Smith when he says this is the first time they've done this, but when he says that I think he is referring to using the tape and I'm sure they've done other illegal things to the ball in the past (like the video of Bancroft during the ashes filling his pocket with sugar) and i'm sure a lot of teams have methods (like faf's mints and zipper/warner's long finger nail and tape etc).

Didn't there turn out to be a legit reason for the sugar thing?

 

[Adders]

Didn't there turn out to be a legit reason for the sugar thing?

he's diabetic??

 

[GoodAreasShane]

For Michael Vaughan to open his mouth on this subject is extremely hypocritical considering Trescothick openly admitted England were ball tampering throughout the 2005 Ashes. What a pathetic excuse of a human being.

 

[Adders]

For Michael Vaughan to open his mouth on this subject is extremely hypocritical considering Trescothick openly admitted England were ball tampering throughout the 2005 Ashes. What a pathetic excuse of a human being.

Michael Vaughan commenting on anything is never a good thing......but seriously, get yer hand off it. Sucking on a mint is not exactly on the same level as this is it?