And no where was he specifically fined for ball tampering either, although it may have been possible even under the 1980 wording
if Burge could have proven that he had put the dirt on the ball.
Please note that being accused of doing something, as Atherton was, did not mean he did it.
Funny that both the BBC and Wisden say he was.
I think he needs a time machine.
Burge fined him after the game at The Oval - for 'dissent' (a barely perceptible eyebrow raise).
Bancroft sure, but on a bare reading of the CA press release, I've got no sympathy for Smith. The official story would appear to suggest that Smith knew and either decided to turn a blind eye, or gave Warner a wink-nudge approval to go ahead with it. Either way, I really don't see how that's a whole lot better than actively conspiring in the original plan and given his position as the ****ing team captain he obviously carries an obligation to come down on that **** like a ton of bricks.
The report makes me think less poorly of Smith than I did initially, tbh. He comes across more as just a really awful captain than the pre-meditated cheater I kind of had him pinned as before it came out.
Apparently there was nothing untoward with the ball when they checked, hence no change of ball and 5 run penalty... so it was either a piss poor job by Bancroft or he had not really got a good opportunity.
Not that he'd gives hints of this away over the years
Cost/benefit analysis from Indian cricket overall. Neither of them are worth having in the team anymore- their value as players is less than the cost of their controversy. Get the BCCI to ban them, and you don't have to pay them, and don't anger fans of theirs by dropping them. BCCI gets to give the finger to players it has beef with in the process.
There was a newspaper article saying that Warner was spotted putting sandpaper in his finger bandages.... it was why Bancroft got given the job for CT. Rather than Warner who normally looks after the ball.
