[MTVN]

I know there's basically zero interest in cricket on this site but this has been major news everywhere. The Australian captain Steve Smith and his vice captain David Warner conspired with the youngest member on the team Cameron Bancroft to use sandpaper on the ball during a match. Smith and Warner have been banned for a year and Bancroft nine months. They've all become hate figures and been sent home from the Aussies South Africa tour in disgrace.



Smith broke down crying in a press conference earlier today:

Youtube video

Now they say it was the only time they'd ever done it but in the most recent Ashes the Aussies were getting reverse swing early in the innings while Anderson - the best swing bowler in the world - couldn't swing the ball for toffee. It will probably never come out now unless one of them writes a tell all memoir but its pretty suspicious supposedly the coach knew nothing about it either but thats probably rubbish

[Niamh.]

I heard about this alright, cheating bastards. What advantage do they gain by doing that Matt?

[Calderyon]

I would guess it would help in the grip department. Like holding the ball better when throwing.

[LeatherTrumpet]

Its not like the Aussies have not got history cheating at cricket

*cough: bodyline

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

I heard about this alright, cheating bastards. What advantage do they gain by doing that Matt?

Players would normally shine one side of the ball to try and get it to swing either inwards or outwards. As the game goes on though and the ball loses its shine it won't be so easy to swing it naturally but they can try and get reverse swing using the dry side of the ball. If this side is rough enough it will go against the normal swing and so be reverse swing. That's why players get tempted to dry dodgy stuff like scratching the ball or stepping on it which would probably get them in trouble as well but actually bringing sandpaper out to rough the ball up takes it a step further. It was pretty low of them to get the youngest player in the team to carry it out as well. Seemed like Smith was originally trying to dodge too much responsibility by saying it was a 'leadership group' that made the decision but actually it turned out to just be him and Warner.

Can believe that Warner might have been the driving force behind it though, he's a really nasty character

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Players would normally shine one side of the ball to try and get it to swing either inwards or outwards. As the game goes on though and the ball loses its shine it won't be so easy to swing it naturally but they can try and get reverse swing using the dry side of the ball. If this side is rough enough it will go against the normal swing and so be reverse swing. That's why players get tempted to dry dodgy stuff like scratching the ball or stepping on it which would probably get them in trouble as well but actually bringing sandpaper out to rough the ball up takes it a step further. It was pretty low of them to get the youngest player in the team to carry it out as well. Seemed like Smith was originally trying to dodge too much responsibility by saying it was a 'leadership group' that made the decision but actually it turned out to just be him and Warner.

Can believe that Warner might have been the driving force behind it though, he's a really nasty character

So what will happen to the younger guy, will they cut him some slack or not? You can imagine it must have been pretty intimidating being put in that position by the older guys

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

So what will happen to the younger guy, will they cut him some slack or not? You can imagine it must have been pretty intimidating being put in that position by the older guys

He's been banned for nine months so a bit more lenient. Most of the anger is at Smith and Warner not him so I expect he'll be able to revive his career more easily once the ban is up. His ban is only from Australian cricket though and he's still supposed to be playing over here this summer for Somerset but I don't know if that will still happen now.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by MTVN

He's been banned for nine months so a bit more lenient. Most of the anger is at Smith and Warner not him so I expect he'll be able to revive his career more easily once the ban is up. His ban is only from Australian cricket though and he's still supposed to be playing over here this summer for Somerset but I don't know if that will still happen now.

That sounds fair

[smudgie]

The cheats should be perma banned

[King Gizzard]

Steve Smith is definitely reptilian anyway, look at his face

[King Gizzard]

Can you imagine if this was Pakistan?

Aussies would want life bans

[AnnieK]

My Dad and borther are huge cricket fans - both have played since being kids and my dad umpires for a local league and he is disgusted that they have brought the game into disrepute. Disgraceful - should look at if there were any shenanigans at the Ashes now - I think there is a video of one of the Aussies putting sugar in his pocket during one of the breaks which I think can be used to rough the ball too?

[rusticgal]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

So what will happen to the younger guy, will they cut him some slack or not? You can imagine it must have been pretty intimidating being put in that position by the older guys

Young or not...surely you know what is right and wrong. What's the point of being a sportsman if you are going to cheat. I understand the pressure and possible niavity of the young player but he now pays the price for not standing the moral ground.
These 'cheats' will now pay the price for being part of an unacceptable act. Had they not been caught would they be celebrating 'getting away with it'?. It wouldn't sit right with me. They didn't think of the consequences did they. They didn't think of the consequences of getting caught out...they didn't think of the shame it would bring on, not only them but of their families..their country.
To see them cry and wallow in self pity because of their future..income..contracts etc..serves them right. However it's their families I feel for, because they will suffer the shame and retribution of their stupidity and selfish cheating behaviour.