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Australia waits as Smith, Warner sweat on CA tampering review

Author
AAP,
Publish Date
Mon, 26 Mar 2018, 9:11AM
Cameron Bancroft (foreground) and Steve Smith (in focus) have admitted to ball tampering in their 322-run loss to South Africa. (Photo \ Getty Images)
Cameron Bancroft (foreground) and Steve Smith (in focus) have admitted to ball tampering in their 322-run loss to South Africa. (Photo \ Getty Images)

Australia waits as Smith, Warner sweat on CA tampering review

Author
AAP,
Publish Date
Mon, 26 Mar 2018, 9:11AM

Millions of Australians are waiting on the result of a formal review into the ball-tampering scandal, including every member of the touring party in South Africa.

It's particularly dark times for Steve Smith, who Tim Paine says is "struggling" as the full extent of backlash becomes clear and Cricket Australia (CA) comes under immense pressure to sack their skipper.

But uncertainty clouds every individual to be grilled by CA's integrity chief Iain Roy and team performance manager Pat Howard, who will soon arrive in Cape Town.

READ MORE:
Smith banned, Australia collapse to embarrassing loss

Smith has been slapped with a one-Test ban by the International Cricket Council and will miss the series finale that starts in Johannesburg on Friday.

Wicketkeeper Paine is expected to formally become Australia's 46th Test captain, having filled in when Smith and David Warner stood down from their leadership roles on the morning of day four of the third Test in Cape Town.

The Tasmanian wouldn't be drawn on whether Smith and coach Darren Lehmann should continue in their posts.

"That's I think something that might come up this week," he said after his team's 322-run loss at Newlands.

"But there's an internal review that's going to take place in the next few days and until that's happened no one will be making any comment on anything like that."

Paine also wouldn't entertain the prospect of replacing Smith in a full-time capacity.

"There'll be a review this week. I'm not sure what's going to happen," he said.

"I don't think anyone is, so it's an impossible question to answer.

"Not the circumstances that anyone would like to be sitting here. Really bizarre, strange, horrible 24 hours."

Not since the 'homeworkgate' saga of 2013, when Shane Watson was banned, flew home, copped criticism from Howard then returned to India and became Australia's 44th Test captain has there been such instability in Australian cricket.

On that occasion, four players were given one-Test suspensions for not completing written feedback to then coach Mickey Arthur.

Now, Smith has admitted he rubber stamped the illegal use of sticky tape in an attempt to scuff the ball at Newlands.

Cameron Bancroft carried out the plan on Saturday, while Warner was also involved in the initial discussion.

CA has the power to mete out lifetime bans from the sport but the governing body is unlikely to opt for such an extreme response.

The ICC didn't ban Bancroft, instead punishing his ball-tampering charge with a hefty fine and three demerit points, but CA may not be so forgiving.

"They're not great. It's been a horrible 24 hours, they're struggling but probably the reality and the enormity of what's happened is starting to sink in," Paine said, when asked about Smith and Bancroft.

"Maybe some did (underestimate how bad it was). I don't think we all would have expected this to be as big as it has been and particularly the fallout that we have seen from back home.

"The reality and enormity of it has sunk in."

Paine suggested walking off the field at stumps on Saturday was the lowest he'd felt on a cricket field.

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