"Premeditated, blatant cheating"

Whatever has just shaken the cricketing world during the 3rd test between South Africa and Australia is a disgrace, to say the least. 

It was seen after lunchtime that Australian opener Camron Bancroft was caught on coverage with a yellow tape and obvious tampering with the ball. Retired Proteas captain Graeme Smith has described these events as "quite scary" and there is no doubt that it was. To see that Australian cricket has steeped so low that it has ended in them resorting to cheating is simply an insult to the people of Australia and the people who pay good money to watch 'cricket'. 

By the Australian captain, Steve Smith accepting the allegations handed down by the match referee and his comments regarding the planned nature of the tampering was also incredibly dissapointing. The so-called 'leadership group' being involved in the initiation of these events has no doubt exposed the level of poor thinking and the desperate state that the Australian team is in. Now whether this particular group were actively seeking to alter the condition of the ball to have an unfair advantage over the opposition, what has been the result is a young players' potential career destroyed. 

There is little to no doubt that Camron Bancroft has been dragged into this situation by the 'leadership group'. For a young player who is already not found his feet at the top level, to be involved in this complete nonsense is a shameful representation of Australian cricket and the management that has been involved in the initiation of these events. It is hard to imagine what a player like Bancroft is going through considering his unstable test future and the scrutiny of his position in the team. And I feel that he has confirmed to this scandal in an attempt to somehow restoring his reputation amongst the senior players.  Whilst some sympathies lie with Bancroft and his involvement as a young player in a somewhat desperate situation, I am in firm belief that he should be labelled as a cheat along with all those involved. 

The most recent press conference with Steve Smith and Camron Bancroft left more questions than answers. It somewhat reflected the immense stupidity of these senior players and the acute level of thinking that had gone into committing such an act. Being at "the wrong place at the wrong time" are comments that are immensely concerning and I think that when listening to this it was a clear example that something is not right in that dressing room. A young player has officially admitted that what he knew he was about to get involved in was not right and it reflects on the character of the players. 

Cricket is a game which has been blessed by a culture that has learned to play by the rules and play in the spirit of the game. But what Steve Smith has done has represented the Australian cricket team in a way which has abused that relationship which glorifies the great game. An ICC charge of a single match suspension and a 100% match fee has been given to the skipper which I believe is absolute rubbish. This is too generous of a punishment considering the nature of the crime. 

Recalling back to the infamous incident in 2010 involving the spot-fixing allegations against Pakistani players; Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir. All three were given a 5-year playing ban for being involved in spot-fixing where the intentions were not influencing the result of the game but for someone off the field. However, what has happened now in Cape Town is that some Australian players are involved in a crime that is intended to have an unfair effect on the opposition and ultimately alter the balance of the game. Which I believe is a far greater crime. But on a more cricket society level, it is obvious that no Australian player can be charged with a penalty as harsh as a player from a so-called 'less-stable nation'. And this is simply due to the fact that the Australian cricketing fraternity is far too powerful and much like the BCCI their best interests can outweigh the spirit of the game. 

It is events like these which reflect the level of thinking that is going on in the management and the dressing room. I feel immensely bad for the players who are not involved and have come to the ground in the mindset to play a game of cricket and not involved in this obscene nonsense and idiocity. I think it is this event which highlights that Australia is in a headspace in which they have admitted that they do not have the skill to compete with South Africa. When it comes to the tough moments, they simply do not have the calibre or the mental capacity to play the game in a spirited manner. 

It is very sad to see Australian cricket stoop to another low and the disgrace and disappointment that they have brought upon the people who watch them and admire them. I strongly believe that the players involved should be well ashamed of what they have committed and that a stronger punishment should be given. Weather Steve Smith should be sacked and the whole group involved is completely irrespective. It should not matter who is involved only what has been committed.

Seeing the events of day 4 unfold, it looked like 11 zombies had taken the field. No energy at all dropped catches and misfields would be the most appropriate way to describe Australia's day in the field. Steve Smith and David Warner's decision to step down from the captaincy and vice-captaincy respectively was a topic of some debate. Whilst I think that for the sake of the game it would have been appropriate for them to take the field however their understandable lack of energy seemed toxic in the ill vibe on the field. 

Overall, it has been incredibly dissapointing to see what has turned out to be a case of cheating with a team which I have respected for so long. As a cricket lover and enthusiast, I want to love Australian cricket, but it is moments like these which fuel the hatred due to the stupidy of the players involved. I think that South Africa should take advantage of Australia's situation and have every right to make them spend longer out in the field and play aggressive against them as they as a team have plenty to play for. Let's hope that a better result happens for the remainder of this test and that more answers are given. And as Michael Clarke has explicty labelled this as "premeditaded, blatant cheating" and that the senior members who were involved should be extremely ashamed.