He said it was a stain on the game "we all love and I have loved since I was a boy."

"I need to take a deep breath and spend time with family, friends and trusted advisers. You will hear from me in a few days."

A post shared by David Warner (@davidwarner31) on Mar 28, 2018 at 9:37pm PDT

Bancroft landed back in Australia  few hours later. After landing at 4:55pm (AEDT), Bancroft was ushered out of a back entry from Perth airport into an awaiting car with Western Australia coach Justin Langer riding alongside.

Bancroft addressed the ball tampering scandal, which has consumed the cricketing world, in a brief press conference.

"Thank you very much for coming along everyone, I've had time to reflect on the events in Cape Town and on the punishments handed down to me by the ICC and CA," Bancroft said.

"I want to say that I'm also very sorry.

"I love the game of cricket and playing for my nation and my state. There's no greater pride for me.

"I'm extremely disappointed and regret my actions, I'm sorry to to those people who have looked up to me in the cricket world and especially the kids.

"I know I'm a role model but haven't acted like one in this instance. I understand I have let many people down and I understand the disappointment in the community.

The 25-year-old has shown immense character since the scandal broke despite his nine-month suspension ruling him out of playing for Australia or in Australian first class cricket until December, an exact date of his return has not been officially released.

After earning his place in the Test side prior to the recent Ashes series, Bancroft has played only a total of eight Tests in his short Australian career.

The findings of Cricket Australia's report pinned the incident on former vice-captain Warner as the architect of the plan to cheat, alleging he advised Bancroft how to alter the ball with sandpaper.

CA alleges Warner was solely responsible for the "development of a plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball", instructing "a junior player to carry out a plan", and providing "advice to a junior player regarding how a ball could be artificially altered, including demonstrating how it could be done".

CA also claims Warner failed to "voluntarily report his knowledge of the plan after the match", whereas Smith and Bancroft came clean.

Former Australian cricketer Kim Hughes had a sombre message for his countrymen after the cheating debacle.

They were all handed bans by Cricket Australia, but Hughes told D'Arcy and Goran it was hard to shake the cheat label once you had it.

"Til the day they die, they'll always be known as 'oh, you're the cheat'," Hughes said. "It will be very, very lonely for them for a very long while."

Cricket Australia suspended Smith and Warner for 12 months and Bancroft for nine months for their part in the ball tampering plan. It was a punishment that Hughes said needed to be handed down after the International Cricket Council stood Smith down for one match and fined Bancroft.

"Cricket Australia had no other option. They had to do something, and something concrete. Maybe it's a good example for the rest of the world.

"It's not just been a tragedy for cricket; it's a tragedy for our country. I don't think we've had a darker experience as far as sport is concerned, but certainly from our country's reputation.

"We've always been very proud of that Aussie spirit – have a go but be fair.

"Comments like 'it's just not cricket', 'accept the umpire's decision', those sorts of things are almost part of our culture, so it has been a dark day."