The three Australians have been handed lengthy bans in an attempt to restore "integrity" and rebuild the reputation of the sport in Australia in the wake of a ball-tampering scandal.

Smith, the national team captain, and vice captain David Warner have been banned from playing for the national side for a year following their roles in the incident that caused national outrage during the third Test against South Africa.

Cameron Bancroft was given a nine-month ban for using sandpaper to rough the ball illegally.

On Saturday, Smith and Bancroft admitted during a post-match press conference that they'd conspired to scuff the ball in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage over South Africa.

A Cricket Australia investigation found the trio were the only ones who knew of the plan, which was concocted during the lunch break and carried out by young fielder Bancroft, who had played just eight Test matches.

The probe found Warner guilty of "developing" the idea and for giving "instruction to a junior player to carry out a plan to take steps to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper."

Steve Smith was stripped of the captaincy and sent home from South Africa after admitting to cheating.

How Australia cheating scandal harms national psyche



How Australia cheating scandal harms national psyche

It also found Smith and Bancroft guilty of making "misleading public comments" when they claimed it was grit-covered yellow tape, not sandpaper.

Along with the suspensions, both Smith and Bancroft will not be considered for any leadership positions until after 12 months and Warner will "not be considered for team leadership positions in the future," CA said in a statement.

"Any consideration of future leadership would be conditional on acceptance by fans and the public, form and authority among the playing group"

READ: What is ball tampering in cricket?

Coach keeps job
All three players, who were already being sent home from South Africa, will also have to complete 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket before being considered for future selection.

However they "will be permitted to play club cricket and will be encouraged to do so to maintain links with the cricket community," CA added.

But Sutherland dismissed rumors that coach Darren Lehman was resigning.

"No other players or support staff had prior knowledge, including Darren Lehman, who has not resigned and will continue to coach under current contract," Sutherland said.

Australian fielder Cameron Bancroft was questioned by umpires during the third day of the third Test between South Africa and Australia.

Australian fielder Cameron Bancroft was questioned by umpires during the third day of the third Test between South Africa and Australia.

The three players will be replaced by Matthew Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns for the fourth Test against South Africa, with Tim Paine appointed captain.

David Peever, the chairman of Cricket Australia, said the board "shares the anger of fans and the broader Australian community about these events."

"They go to the integrity and reputation of Australian Cricket and Australian sport and the penalties must reflect that," he said.

"These are significant penalties for professional players and the Board does not impose them lightly. It is hoped that following a period of suspension, the players will be able to return to playing the game they love and eventually rebuild their careers."

CA CEO James Sutherland added that details of an independent review into the conduct and culture of the men's cricket team will also be shared in "due course."

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar called the ban the "right decision" in a tweet on Wednesday.

"Cricket has been known as a gentleman's game. It's a game that I believe should be played in the purest form. Whatever has happened is unfortunate but the right decision has been taken to uphold the integrity of the game. Winning is important but the way you win is more important," Tendulkar wrote.

Tendulkar, a former Indian cricketer, is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.


Australia's cricketers have heaped disgrace and humiliation on the country, the local press said, blasting the "rotten" team culture under the leadership of captain Steve Smith.

John Buchanan, a former coach for the Australian team between 1999 to 2007, told CNN Sport that Cricket Australia was facing a watershed moment.

"There's a feeling in Australia this isn't just a one-off incident," he said. "It's been building over a long period of time and the culture between the team really needs to be addressed really seriously.

"What comes next will be a real test for Cricket Australia with how they deal with this issue."

However, the backlash has begun, with major Cricket Australia sponsor Magellan Financial Group terminating its three-year partnership with the team, according to a notice posted on the Australian stock exchange (ASX) on Thursday.

"A conspiracy by the leadership of the Australian Men's Test Cricket Team which broke rules with a clear intention to gain an unfair advantage during the third test in South Africa goes to the heart of integrity," CEO and Co-Founder of Magellan Hamish Douglass said in the market notice.

Punishment 'too harsh'
The investigation found that all three players had breached article 2.3.5 of Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct, for conduct contrary to the spirit of the game.

But the penalties dished out by CA have divided some in the cricketing world.

Australian cricket great Shane Warne said he was "shocked" by the incident but questioned the severity of the punishment.

"The jump to hysteria is something that has elevated the offence beyond what they actually did, and maybe we're at a point where the punishment just might not fit the crime," he said in an article for Australia's Daily Telegraph.

The punishment handed down to Smith, Warner and Bancroft has been criticised as 'too harsh' by some.

The punishment handed down to Smith, Warner and Bancroft has been criticised as 'too harsh' by some.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan agreed.

"Steve Smith, I think, is a good guy who made a huge mistake," he tweeted. "He needed punishing but I think this is too harsh.

"Bancroft, who I don't know, was led astray but deserved punishing, but again too harshly in my opinion."