Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Sours all of Australia's achievements in recent times. Smith should stand down.

True Dan. Smith must go - and as he has already stated that he won't resign, CA should sack him, and drop him.

And NOT put Warner in the job.

Anything less is condoning their actions.

GarlicJam wrote:True Dan. Smith must go - and as he has already stated that he won't resign, CA should sack him, and drop him.

And NOT put Warner in the job.

Anything less is condoning their actions.

Apparently it was a plan thought of by all of the senior players (leadership group). At the very least, they were aware of the plan.

So I guess that should rule out Smith, Warner, Starc, Lyon, Hazlewood as next captain... Bancroft can hardly be in the frame either. Shaun Marsh maybe?

yuppie wrote:I would say he has lost his job. And i would also give him a few tests off as well to show that no one is bigger than the game.

Fair play in taking ownership quickly and protecting the player you put in that situation, but the simple fact is he has put that player in that position. He has shown a lack of leadership, and he has instigated cheating.

I really can not see how he can play in the next test let alone captain Australia. I would be disappointed if CA allowed him to keep his job.

Yup, agreed.

SA must be perplexed about this reaction as they usually get their lawyers in when seen to be ball tampering.

Wonder who the leadership group were

If it was Lehman he should resign
If it was Smith he should be stripped of the captaincy
Same goes for Warner if he was involved

The one person who shouldn't be punished is Bancroft who has been thrown under the bus by his senior colleagues and that they made the most inexperienced guy in the team do it is the most shameful thing of all

Well, this is one of the worst days in the history of Australian cricket. In the first instance, the leadership group should be sent home. I'm assuming that includes Smith, Warner, Lyon, Starc, and possibly Khawaja. Smith should be stripped of the captaincy. Bancroft should also be sent home. The entire team should forfeit their match fee.

Following CA's investigation, and indeed the ICC's investigation, both Smith and Bancroft should be suspended from all cricket for 12 months. If it is found that the coaching staff were in on it, they should be fired.

Bring in a new leadership group under the captaincy of Mitchell Marsh. If Lehmann is fired, bring in Justin Langer. Call up Matt Renshaw, Ashton Agar, Peter Handscomb, and tbh, I'm not sure who else right now.

This is a disgrace. CA need to act swiftly and decisively, to ensure that this never happens again. This tour has been a disaster. The culture in the Oz dressing room clearly isn't good. Swing the axe. Make it count. Make change happen. The stain that this has created will last a long, long time.

backfootpunch wrote:The one person who shouldn't be punished is Bancroft who has been thrown under the bus by his senior colleagues and that they made the most inexperienced guy in the team do it is the most shameful thing of all

I disagree, bfp. Bancroft must be punished - and will be - at the very least to set an example. Yes, he was placed in a very awkward situation, but he still did not HAVE to do it. We always have choices.

I think CA should drop him, and make him force his way back into the side - which may never happen. So be it.


I like fts's suggestion of a 12 month ban from all cricket for Smith - but it should go to ALL of the "leadership group" - and they then have to start back at Shield level (if their states want them back), with no CA central contracts.


in fact, I agree with all of Stand's post - except I think that Bancroft should be punished, but not severely like all who put him up to it. Drop him, fine him, and let him start back at Shield level next season.

Hopefully none of the implicated players will be picked up by any teams/franchises in other countries.

Australian PM, Malcolm Turnbull, has requested that CA remove Smith from the captaincy.


Unfortunately, I think this is the best thing that Turnbull has done as pM.

dan08 wrote:

GarlicJam wrote:True Dan. Smith must go - and as he has already stated that he won't resign, CA should sack him, and drop him.

And NOT put Warner in the job.

Anything less is condoning their actions.

Apparently it was a plan thought of by all of the senior players (leadership group). At the very least, they were aware of the plan.

So I guess that should rule out Smith, Warner, Starc, Lyon, Hazlewood as next captain... Bancroft can hardly be in the frame either. Shaun Marsh maybe?

From what the media say these five seem to be members of that shadowy institution known as the Leadership Group.

Sutherland said an investigation will take place but Steve remains captain for now. However, the momentum is growing against him. Pity! A great batsmen but not a great person it seems.

BTW the ICC have this as a Level Two offence so I guess not too much punishment from the organisation that runs world cricket i suppose.

Stands has some good suggestions. CA need to identify who in the leadership group was involved and then punish from there.

Bancroft does need to be punished. An older guy made me do it is not an excuse.

Who is the leadership group, and how many got involved? Obviously Warner and Smith but who else? Lehman must have known. With the honesty from the players so far, perhaps the truth will be easy to get?

It seems nearly all Australian supporters agree that something should be done greater than what the ICC would do to punish these players.

GJ it is a good stand by Turnbull, but there is another thing that i like about him. He is not Tony Abbott.

mikesiva wrote:BTW the ICC have this as a Level Two offence so I guess not too much punishment from the organisation that runs world cricket i suppose.

I have always thought the on-field sanction is incredibly lenient - a 5 run penalty? What a joke. (not that Australia even copped that)

He got rid of Abbott before he became PM, Yuppie, so my point is still valid. (so is yours, though)

yuppie wrote:It seems nearly all Australian supporters agree that something should be done greater than what the ICC would do to punish these players.

The thing that probably goes unthought of by Aus cricketers these days is that they are TRULY representing the average Australian each time they take to the field. They have been placed in a position of (supposed) great honour, high prestige and esteem. There probably WAS no higher honour in Australia, than being the Aus cricket captain. Young kids look up to them, want to be them, and truly dream of being in their position. Grown people want to be proud of them, and want to respect them.

All these dreams and aspirations of young Australians are lying in tatters today. All of the trust that has been placed in them has been treated so carelessly, so callously.

People are more than disappointed, more than angry.


We had about 20 people around today, the feelings of all there were just the same. The only differences were in the punishment that should be handed down - some were of the 'never play cricket again' line, ranging down to 'sack and suspend'.


As I said today, this is definitely the worst thing that has happened in Aus cricket in my lifetime, maybe forever.

Certainly the biggest scandal for me in my time. It is interesting supporters views on this because everyone seems to be untied on it. The reputation of Smith will always have an asterisk next to it now, as will others who are found to be involved. Growing up the Australian captain was the most important job in Australia. That responsibility seems to have got lost on the current players.

I do wonder what the SA players think about the commotion that has followed this incident.