Also read: Smith, Bancroft admit ball-tampering
Opening batsman Cameron Bancroft, 25, the most junior member in the side, was the player tasked with implementing the plan and he has been charged by the International Cricket Council, which could lead to a one-match ban and a 100% fine of his match fee.
"I’m embarrassed, the boys in the shed are embarrassed and I feel for Cam as well," Smith told reporters. "It is not what we want to see in the game, it’s not what the Australian cricket team are about. Being the leader of the team I am incredibly sorry for trying to bring the game into disrepute like we did." A remorseful Bancroft admitted he was nervous at taking on his role in the scam and panicked when he realised that cameras in the stadium had caught him in the act, placing the tape in his underwear to keep it out of the gaze of the umpires. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yChk9LEclw "I guess once I was sighted on the (TV) screens, that resulted in me shoving it down my trouser," Bancroft said. "I am not proud of what has happened. I have to live with the consequence and the damage to my reputation that comes with it. I will do my best to move forward and play cricket." Smith said it was the first and last time the team had hatched such a plan and while he would not name the other conspirators, he said head coach Darren Lehmann was not involved. "The leadership group knew about it, we spoke about it at lunch," Smith said. "I’m not proud of what has happened. It’s not in the spirit of the game, my integrity and the integrity of the team has been damaged and rightfully so. It’s not on and it won’t happen again, I can promise you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1E3w4Mymio "The coaches weren’t involved, it was purely the players and the leadership group who came up with this. A poor choice, our action is deeply regrettable." Smith said he wanted to keep captaining the side. "I won’t be considering stepping down, I still think I am the right person for the job. It was a big mistake. This is something I am not proud of, something I can learn from and like I said, I am embarrassed to be sitting here talking about this," he said. "We are in the middle of such a great series and for something like this to overshadow the great cricket that has been played, that’s not what I am about or what the team is about."Videos: YoutubeCameron Bancroft charged with altering the condition of the ball; Steve Smith says senior players hatched plan to gain an advantage.
More here: https://t.co/dNadn5hTKg #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/bydGapBq9N— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 24, 2018
