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The punishment does not fit the crime: Cricket fraternity express their disappointment over CA’s decision

Here is what people think about Smith, Warner’s 12-month ban

The punishment does not fit the crime: Cricket fraternity express their disappointment over CA’s decision

Steve Smith (L) David Warner (M) Cameron Bancroft (R) Photo: AFP

Former Australian captain Steve Smith, former vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, banned by Cricket Australia in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal, will have to undertake voluntary service in community cricket as per the suspension order.

While Smith and Warner have been banned for one year, Bancroft, the player given the task of actually tampering with the ball, faces a nine-month suspension.

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The ball-tampering scandal that shocked the cricket world took place on the third day of the third Test of a four-match series between Australia and South Africa. The match was played in Newlands, Cape Town.

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Here is what people think about Steven Smith, David Warner’s 12-month ban

Mitchell Johnson

I don’t condone what these players did it’s not the Australian way! Not sure if this is the right punishments, but these players will need accept it and learn from this. They are human and they have made a huge mistake. I hope they have the right people with them in this tough time.

Tom Moody

What happened in South Africa is incredibly sad on so many levels but what appears clear in my view is the punishment certainly doesn’t fit the crime!

Jonathan Trott

Goodbye David

Chris Gayle

Oi Oi Oi! It’s not my business but it’s done and dusted!

I think 1 year is harsh! But to the 3 youngsters, y’all gonna have to live with this – reflect quickly and know there’s a lot of life ahead so don’t stop here! Feel free to come see me in Jamaica 🇯🇲 anytime! #JustSaying

Dale Steyn

YOH those bans are heavy.

It’s just, well, it’s, WOW.

That’s life changing stuff.

That shit at the airport looked totally unnecessary though

Sachin Tendulkar

Cricket has been known as a gentleman’s game. It’s a game that I believe should be played in the purest form. Whatever has happened is unfortunate but the right decision has been taken to uphold the integrity of the game. Winning is important but the way you win is more important.

Michael Vaughan

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 …

Kevin Pietersen

I don’t like this Steve Smith is not a criminal.

Ian Chappell

If they’d only given six months and they’d played in the Australian summer, the booing and crowd reaction would have been so bad and it would have been very hard for the players.

John Buchanan

They will pay a heavy price financially and reputational but, in the end, they are trades people in the world of cricket and they need to be allowed to get back into the game.

Chris Tremlott

Year-long bans for Steve Smith and David Warner are a little harsh. I feel a six-month suspension, hefty fine and being stripped of their captaincy roles would have been sufficient punishment.”

Mickey Arthur

Despite generational change, independent reviews and too many behavioural spot fires to list, Cricket Australia and the national team had demonstrated no real willingness or desire to improve the culture within their organisation from season to season. I have been bitterly disappointed watching the Australian cricket team over the last few years. The behaviour has been boorish and arrogant.

Kane Williamson

He’s not a bad person by any means. They (Warner and Smith) have made a mistake, they have certainly admitted that and they are disappointed with that action so they will have to take that punishment, strong punishment that it is.

Venkatesh Prasad

It is a serious matter (ball-tampering) and it should be dealt very seriously. Whatever has happened is not good for cricket. It is against the ethics and rule of the game. Using an object to change the condition of ball is not the right tactic.

Hashim Amla

This has given every team in the world a reality check. What kind of cricket do you want to play? It has probably given the ICC a lot more headaches and the opportunity now is for the governing bodies to show us, where is this line?

Michael Hussey

I feel like we’ve lost sight of some of the principles in recent years…there are some very good people representing Australia at the moment but the ball tampering issue isn’t the first time the team as a collective has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons. The next few days, weeks and months will be difficult for Australian cricket.

Darren Lehmann

They have made a grave mistake but they are not bad people. As a coach, you feel for them as people. They are hurting. I feel for them and their families. These are young men and I hope people will give them a second chance. Their health and wellbeing is extremely important to us.

Shane Warne

To hear that the Australian cricket team had been involved in premeditated cheating is something that is embarrassing. There is no way you can condone it. The win at all costs attitude in modern sport can make people do stupid things. I think Steve Smith was guilty of making a severe error of judgement. He was naïve and you can’t condone what he did. He’d be devastated.

Dawid Malan

We looked at our bowlers and said that maybe our bowlers weren’t as good as theirs in extracting reverse swing, but who knows? I’m not accusing anyone, I don’t think anyone is accusing the Aussies of doing anything in the Ashes. What happened in South Africa now with the Aussies, you can’t say that happened in the Ashes just because they’ve been done doing something silly over there.

Michael Clarke

Whatever punishment and sanctions they cop, that is going to be nothing compared to what they’re going to deal with for the rest of their lives. They’re going to be called cheats for the rest of their lives.

Simon Hughes

Lehmann, for all the vitriol thrown at him on Twitter, is a decent, down-to-earth man. He treasures his job, always puts the players’ best interests at heart and is generally a happy-go-lucky, approachable chap. He surely would have talked Smith and Warner out of their ball-tampering plans if he had been consulted.

Marcus North

Personally I think the sanctions are a little bit harsh. I feel that those players should be banned for 12 months from international cricket. It’s an absolute privilege to represent Australia in Test match cricket, they’ve abused that with what they’ve done over the weekend but to take them out of first-class cricket in Australia isn’t beneficial for the game.

Harsha Bhogle

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.

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