by from_the_stands » Mon Mar 26, 2018 7:33 pm
OK, so having had a day to take this all in, the ICC have already handed out their penalties, with CA currently carrying out their investigation. With the Australian media going into a frenzy over this, the general mood is that heads will roll. CA is really in a difficult position here - if they don't act in accordance with the expectation of the Australian public, the damage to the game could well be severe. One way or the other, the game here is going to take a massive hit.
Steve Smith - He's is deep brown stuff. His taking responsibility suggests that if the idea wasn't his (and it may well have been), then as captain, he approved it. Michael Vaughan is right. His position as Australian captain is now untenable. The board will relieve him of the armband, and his sponsors will abandon him. I suggested earlier in this thread that he receive a ban from all cricket for 12 months. Some folks are calling for a life ban, but that's ridiculous. Next year is the World Cup, followed by an away Ashes series. I tend to think that the board will suspend him for the Zimbabwe tour, and the home series against Bangladesh, and when his suspension ends, his next contract will be a lower tier contract.
David Warner - For some reason, I tend to think that the idea to cheat may have come from him. He's had a forgettable tour, and frankly, I think the board have had a gutful of his antics. If it comes to pass that this was Warner's idea, then his international career is as good as over. If it wasn't, but he's gone along with it anyway, he'll go for as long as Smith, losing his leadership status and returning on a lower tier contract. He might also find himself subject to a curfew whilst on tour.
Cameron Bancroft - Hmmm, he comes into the series under pressure to maintain his place, performs well, and then gets involved in this! I think the board will bin him for the Zimbabwe tour. I think he'll find this hard to live down. If he's in the Oz side for the next Ashes series, the Barmy Army will have him for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Darren Lehmann - According to Smith, the coaching staff had no knowledge of this. According to an article I read, when Lehmann saw that something was going on, he sent the 12th man straight out to put a stop to it. Lehmann certainly has his detractors, and for a variety of reasons. In this case, I think calls for his head maybe a bit misplaced. I guess the investigation will shine some light on that.
The leadership group - I'm not really sure who's in this, tbh. At a guess, I'd say; Lyon, Starc, and maybe Hazlewood and Khawaja. I couldn't really imagine Khawaja being involved in this. His discretions usually involve a failure to hand in homework. I'm not really sure about the others. They have protested their innocence. We'll have to wait and see.
The Zimbabwe tour isn't really a concern, or the home Tests to Bangladesh. The real test will be India at home. The Aussies will need to be on their very best behaviour, and the Indians are going to goad them like never before.
I still think that Mitchell Marsh is the best option as captain going forward. The armband did wonders for him at Western Australia. Maybe Khawaja for the vice captaincy, but he seriously needs to make runs. Reinstate Aaron Finch as T20 captain.
That'll do for now.
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