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

[Shri]

It's funny how with the Rabada thing people/media were talking about how it would be grievously damaging test cricket for an exciting player to miss one test, whereas people/media (note: not necessarily the same people) were absolutely baying for the blood of two of test cricket's biggest drawcards and wanted them banned for a much longer period.

Maybe it was Russia.

 

[SeamUp]

Northern Australia runs on a wet and dry season rather than a summer and winter.

I don't think the tour will go ahead though.

Why Morgie ?

 

[Starfighter]

Huh. Bangladesh are playing Tests in Australia in August? Never knew it was possible to play cricket in Australia in August.

Anyway, a 2 match ban for the trio would have been perfect. They're in no frame of mind to play this series anyway and missing Zimbabwe would have been no big deal. Come back reasonably contrite in August and everyone moves on.

The tropical bit of the country. The same way your season coincides with ours even though you're in the other hemisphere. They'll be playing in Darwin, and maybe Cairns or Townsville? I can't actually see any schedule which confirms this.

 

[SeamUp]

Chris Barrett
‏Verified account @ChrisBarrett_

Strange and sad scenes as Steve Smith learns his fate, hugs players goodbye and then walks out with suitcase behind him.

**** that is **** !

Jim Maxwell says he has it on good authority that Warner was telling Bancroft what to do in the corner at Lunch and then Smith came and said what you guys doing and then before one answered he said I don't want to hear about it.

Smith is soft and the face of the Australian team being captain and is ultimately responsible as the leader but it is such a disgrace that one of the worlds best batsmen is going to have a 1-year ban next to his name.

 

[morgieb]

Why Morgie ?

Top End series haven't happened for many years and CA aren't particularly keen on hosting/touring minnows. No real financial incentive for the series.

Could see it being an ODI series perhaps.

 

[Starfighter]

The people that fill the CA coffers are who they are currently negotiating with - Channel Nine, Channel Ten and Fox Sports.

Which is going to be more damaging. Temporary outrage that will be gone in a month or two or a shrinking audience when no one wants to watch a nondescript team?

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Defo something is going to happen with Boof. All the press leaks were bang on about the length of bans apart from him going to.

Select suggesting on twitter they simply have to clear some legal hurdles before he is jettisoned.

 

[harsh.ag]

Surreal.

Feel so bad for Smith.

 

[SeamUp]

Defo something is going to happen with Boof. All the press leaks were bang on about the length of bans apart from him going to.

Select suggesting on twitter they simply have to clear some legal hurdles before he is jettisoned.

I reckon he told certain people (it's been leaked) and he hadn't told Sutherland or CA yet ?

But then early findings by head of integrity said he wasn't involved. Which is odd in itself if the questioning was thorough.

 

[Gob]

Chris Barrett
‏Verified account @ChrisBarrett_

Strange and sad scenes as Steve Smith learns his fate, hugs players goodbye and then walks out with suitcase behind him.

Jesus ****

 

[LegionOfBrad]

I reckon he told certain people (it's been leaked) and he hadn't told Sutherland or CA yet ?

But then early findings by head of integrity said he wasn't involved. Which is odd in itself if the questioning was thorough.

Either CA or Boof leaked it. I'd be thoroughly amazed if he stays beyond this series. Next time he fronts up to the press will be a farce as he'll just be continually asked the same question.

 

[Starfighter]

Jim Maxwell says he has it on good authority that Warner was telling Bancroft what to do in the corner at Lunch and then Smith came and said what you guys doing and then before one answered he said I don't want to hear about it.

The thing is even if that;s what happened people aren't going to believe it because of his presser which seems to imply a much larger more long term conspiracy. The idea of not hanging Bancroft out to dry, if that's what he was trying, was stupid. He got caught red-handed, let him take the comparatively minor punishment and move on, and if it's Warner's fault then let the team and admin deal with that without implicating everyone else.

Honestly I'm expecting us to get absolutely rolled in the last match.

 

[morgieb]

I reckon he told certain people (it's been leaked) and he hadn't told Sutherland or CA yet ?

But then early findings by head of integrity said he wasn't involved. Which is odd in itself if the questioning was thorough.

Must've not be technically involved but was cut astray because of his impact on the team culture. Which would make perfect sense.

 

[Johnners]

Utterly ridiculous.

Sutherland can **** off.

 

[Gnske]

Chris Barrett
‏Verified account @ChrisBarrett_

Strange and sad scenes as Steve Smith learns his fate, hugs players goodbye and then walks out with suitcase behind him.

Hahahahahahaha

 

[Stapel]

Abdominal decision. 1 year is an absurd ban, even for a tosspot like Warner l.

Agreed.

What I find more disturbing:
These bans are handed out, before a proper analysis was made. To me it seems logical to take an immediate profissional decission (as was done by sending the three home), and then take all the time needed to come to a fair conclusion.

I am not too sure who played what role in this mess. One source had Warner as the initiator, Bancroft to execute the mess, and Smith as a captain who stood by and did nothing. If that is what happened, Smith should be stripped of the captaincy for being a (very) poor captain, but not face a ban as big as the culprit's.

 

[Gob]

Hahahahahahaha

I'll laugh at your funeral just like this

 

[vic_orthdox]

I'm still not sure what to make of the punishments, to be honest.

 

[Gnske]

I'll laugh at your funeral just like this

Not if I make sure no one finds a corpse.

No admittedly I feel bad for Smith in he's probably going through the motions of asking how he was so stupid over the last week and probably hates his own guts right now. Hitler went through that and it didn't end well.

Get the feeling Smith or Warner might be back sooner than the ban suggests, I think it's adequate. Everyone else I've talked to in the real world thinks a life ban is in order.

 

[Senile Sentry]

Excellent decision taking into account everything. Will send a very good message to all players out there. Sutherland showed some guts there in getting the ban period cover one of the most profitable series in their calendars.