Ball-tampering: Steven Smith banned for one Test

March 25, 2018 18:32

Australia captain Steve Smith has been handed a one-match suspension and fined 100% of his match fee following his confession yesterday that the ball-tampering had been orchestrated by him and senior players.

This means Smith will not play the fourth Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.

The International Cricket Council has also fined Australia opener Cameron Bancroft, who was the player to actually tamper with the ball, 75 per cent of his match fee and handed three demerit points for breaching Level 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third day's play against South Africa in Cape Town.

"The decision made by the leadership group of the Australian team to act in this way is clearly contrary to the spirit of the game, risks causing significant damage to the integrity of the match, the players and the sport itself and is therefore 'serious' in nature. As captain, Steve Smith must take full responsibility for the actions of his players and it is appropriate that he be suspended," ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said.

"The game needs to have a hard look at itself. In recent weeks we have seen incidents of ugly sledging, send-offs, dissent against umpires' decisions, a walk-off, ball tampering and some ordinary off-field behaviour," he siad.

"The ICC needs to do more to prevent poor behaviour and better police the spirit of the game, defining more clearly what is expected of players and enforcing the regulations in a consistent fashion. In addition and most importantly Member countries need to show more accountability for their teams' conduct. Winning is important but not at the expense of the spirit of the game which is intrinsic and precious to the sport of cricket. We have to raise the bar across all areas," Richardson added.

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