Ball-tampering row: Lehmann to continue as Australia coach, Twitter slams decision
Johannesburg: Cricket Australia's decision in connection with the ball-tampering scandal that has tainted the otherwise gentleman's sport, has prompted the response from the cricket world.
Cricket Australia (CA) on Tuesday announced that it has found skipper Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft guilty in the ball-tampering scandal, and suspended the trio for the fourth Test in Johannesburg, beginning Friday.
"Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all charged after it was found they had prior knowledge of the ball tampering incident. No one else was aware," Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland told reporters here.
Slew of former cricketers took to social media to express their disbelief at Sutherland's assertion that only three members of the Australian team knew what was going on. The cricket fraternity was not too pleased with the fact that Australia did not punish coach Darren Lehmann, who will continue in his role in the wake of the entire controversy.
Lehmann never knew - 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 27, 2018
I’ve woken up this morning actually gutted for Smith, Warner & Bancroft.
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 28, 2018
Yes they were involved and will be sanctioned but I’m afraid they weren’t the only ones(& I don’t think anyone else believes they were)...
I hope they get a fair trial.
Me thinks the Hole has just got a little deeper & bigger for Cricket Australia .....
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 27, 2018
Only 3 people knew ........ #MyArse
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 27, 2018
Cam Bancroft must be captaincy material ... In the Leadership group in only his 7th Test ... !!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 27, 2018
To many reputations on the line for the full story not to come out. Cape Town change room is a very small place!
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 27, 2018
The truth, The full story, Accountability and Leadership- until the public get this Australian cricket is in deep shit!
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 27, 2018
I am not someone who generally comments on most things but to say that the coach and the other bowlers didn't know anything about what was happening is a bit too hard to firstly chew&secondly digest.. Anyways
— Kartik Murali (@kartikmurali) March 27, 2018
It is extraordinary that Darren Lehmann continues as coach when clearly he wasn't in control of the team. A meeting was held in the dressing room on a critical issue like ball-tampering and the players elected to bypass him. Lehmann is not needed #CricketAustralia
— Alan Jones (@AlanJones) March 28, 2018
Serious sanctions are on its way. Another 24 hours. Slightly surprised that Darren Lehmann wasn’t a part of the ‘leadership group’. Also, find it hard to digest that no one else in the team was in the know. #SandpaperGate
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 27, 2018
The sanctions will be out tomorrow but Lehmann is very fortunate to survive. Astonishing that the conclusion is that only 2 people apart from Bancroft knew about it, not even the bowlers who would have been the beneficiaries.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 27, 2018
