Steve Smith and David Warner have been banned for 12 months and Cameron Bancroft for 9 months from playing ‘elite’ cricket following the ball-tampering scandal.
However, they can continue to play Grade Cricket, but the trio will be required to undertake 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket. Apart from the ban neither Smith nor Warner will be allowed to captain the side for two years. Shortly after CA’s announcement, the BCCI banned both Smith and Warner from playing in IPL 2018 as well.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Tim Paine will take over the captaincy of the Australian team for the fourth and final Test in Johannesburg. South Africa is currently leading a bad-tempered series 2-1 as Matt Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns will fly to South Africa to replace the exiled trio.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the ban:
Steve Smith I think is a good guy who made a huge mistake … 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 IMO … The other guy I really don’t care about …
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 28, 2018
Many think the Bans are harsh (Me Included) but the precedent has now been set by CA … They realised they had to send a message across the whole game … With what these players will lose out on I am sure the shock wave will do its job …
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 28, 2018
I must admit 12 months is a very harsh ban. 6 months I thought was right but clearly this reflects the uproar in Australia. It means they miss the India series and have little time to get ready for the World Cup
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 28, 2018
As expected, CA have been very strict in their punishment to the offending players. The major take away from this is how critical your track record is.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 28, 2018
So with the one year ban on Smith and Warner and also a 2 year captaincy ban on both, think India will be favourites when they tour Australia later this year. Wonder, who will captain Australia at the World Cup. Aaron Finch ?
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 28, 2018
Bans on Smith, Warner, Bancroft look harsh compared to what similar offences in the past have earned. Cricket Australia appear to have factored outrage in the country in this. But strong message going out to the entire cricket world: Enough is enough!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 28, 2018
Whoa…12 months ban for both Smith and Warner. Don’t see either of them playing in the IPL too. #SandpaperGate
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 28, 2018
Big blow for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
David Warner has been their highest run-getter in each of the last 4 IPL seasons (2014 to 2017).
Irreplaceable!
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) March 28, 2018
12 months ban is very harsh and insane. No one ever missed more than two matches due to ball tampering and there are players – Faf and Akhtar- who have been caught tampering twice. #BallTamperingRow
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 28, 2018
Smith's mistake is he came out clean. Had he denied, like the players in the past did, only Bancroft would have been fined. Feeling sorry for both Smith and Warner. Cricket for at least 12 months will be without two great players. #BallTamperingRow
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 28, 2018
😮🏏❌
Cricket Australia not mucking about issuing Steve Smith & David Warner with year long bans!#Warner alone will likely lose well over $4 Million inc. his Cricket Aus salary, endorsements & IPL Salary.
Do not disrespect the baggy green! #Cricket #DavidWarner #SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/7aBVYhIKVU
— Sam Quek (@SamanthaQuek) March 28, 2018
David Warner will never play for Australia again.
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) March 28, 2018
No defence for what the offending Australian cricketers did, but their punishment seems disproportionate given how widespread 'ball tampering' is in the game.
Losing big stars like @stevesmith49 @davidwarner31 for a year will only further damage the future of Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/Ev6yNkTTyL— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/JagratiShukla29/status/978929599697563648
David Warner has life ban from captaincy. CA have announced it was sandpaper not tape
— ChrisBarrett (@ChrisBarrett_) March 28, 2018
Reaction of some cricketers after #SteveSmith and #DavidWarner got banned for one year for ball tampering. pic.twitter.com/J3LlQRQD0p
— Karan Talwar (@BollywoodGandu) March 28, 2018
The plan was devised by Warner who instructed Bancroft in using sandpaper, who then carried it out and then concealed the act from umpires as directed by Smith. Both Bancroft and Smith then misled the public as to what had taken place https://t.co/GjVQPbMbOO
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) March 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/brainfadesmith/status/978911125633839104
https://twitter.com/RetweetOnly4U/status/978914813626679296
I wonder if the South African board would have considered such lengthy bans for Du Plessis and Philander when they were charged and found guilty of ball tampering. #DavidWarner
— DAMIEN (@DamienDzanic) March 28, 2018
One year really ? Very harsh decision by @CricketAus 6 months was ok or a series Ban was too good .But 1 year is way to long yar. feeling sad for @davidwarner31 @stevesmith49 really unfair with the duo #BallTamperingRow #DavidWarner #SteveSmith #CameronBancroft #CricketAustralia pic.twitter.com/hrzh0wk6hX
— SyEd FaIzAN HuSsAiNi (@faizan_sfh) March 28, 2018
@ICC needs to be unbiased when it comes to act against spirit of the game.
Only Asian players are covered under laws for severe punishment , but for Aussies they are like godfathers#AussieBootLickerICC #DavidWarner— Sunny Sandilya (@sunnysandilya99) March 28, 2018
Team India have already achieved a moral victory over Australia as #SteveSmith and #DavidWarner won't be a part of the India series later this year. #BallTamperingRow
— Harit Joshi (@Haritjoshi) March 28, 2018
What a shame #SteveSmith #DavidWarner ! A little too harsh in my opinion ! #BallTamperingRow
— Docpaps (@docpaps) March 28, 2018
12 months ban to clean the image!
After couple of months, an appeal will be made and this will get reduced to half or less. – Mark my words#SandpaperGate #AussieCheats #DavidWarner #SteveSmith #Bancroft
— This account shares best tweets (@bestandlatest) March 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/nikralmac/status/978916617496096768
https://twitter.com/sushant_ddn/status/978914367453396992
In #sandpapergate Sunderland played Sand, paper, scissor and cut short the career of #DavidWarner #SteveSmith #Bancroft . Such a spoil sport #sarcastic #doitthelehmannway
— abhishek pathak (@aryaveerpathak) March 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/SuperGops/status/978916395495784448
