CAPE TOWN – Australia captain Steve Smith has said his side deliberatelytried to tamper with the condition of the ball on the third day of thethird Test against South Africa at Newlands on Saturday in an orchestratedattempt to gain an advantage.
Batsmen Cameron Bancroft has been charged by the International CricketCouncil and Smith told reporters that it was a deliberate plan from the“leadership group” of the side, but added he would not step down as captain.
“The leadership group knew about it, we spoke about it at lunch,” Smithtold a news conference.
“I am not proud of what has happened. It’s not in the spirit of the game,my integrity and the integrity of the team has been damaged and rightfullyso. It’s not on and it won’t happen again, I can promise you.” – Agencies