Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft have dismissed speculation that they would be appealing the sanctions imposed on them by Cricket Australia (CA) for their role in the ball-tampering controversy in the recent Cape Town Test against South Africa.
Both players took to social media to announce their decisions.
“I would give anything to have this behind me and be back representing my country,” tweeted Smith. “But I meant what I said about taking full responsibility as Captain of the team. I won’t be challenging the sanctions. They’ve been imposed by CA to send a strong message and I have accepted them.”
I would give anything to have this behind me and be back representing my country. But I meant what I said about taking full responsibility as Captain of the team. I won’t be challenging the sanctions. They’ve been imposed by CA to send a strong message and I have accepted them.
— Steve Smith (@stevesmith49) April 4, 2018
Taking the cue from Smith, Bancroft tweeted: “Today I lodged the paperwork with Cricket Australia and will be accepting the sanction handed down. I would love to put this behind me and will do whatever it takes to earn back the trust of the Australian public. Thank you to all those who have sent messages of support.”
Today I lodged the paperwork with Cricket Australia and will be accepting the sanction handed down. I would love to put this behind me and will do whatever it takes to earn back the trust of the Australian public. Thank you to all those who have sent messages of support
— Cameron Bancroft (@cbancroft4) April 4, 2018
Smith and Bancroft confessed to attempting to change the condition of the ball in a press conference during the Cape Town Test, and the International Cricket Council responded by handing a one-match suspension to Smith, along with fining him 100 per cent of his match fee, while Bancroft was fined 75 per cent of his match fee and given three demerit points.
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Cameron Bancroft has confirmed that would be accepting the Cricket Australia sanction[/caption]
CA carried out their own investigation into the matter and subsequently stood down Smith and David Warner, who was found to have hatched the plan to use sandpaper to scuff up the ball, for the final Test of the series in Johannesburg.
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The decision to ban Smith and Warner, the captain and vice-captain of the team at the time, for 12 months and Bancroft for nine months came soon after. Warner hasn’t made public his stance on the matter yet.
Following the announcement of the punishments, which some have called excessive, CA sent the three cricketers back home before the final Test of the series, which Australia went on to lose 3-1.
