Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland not resigning

“It’s on my watch and I take responsibility for the action of what happened last Saturday in Cape Town”. “I made a serious error in judgement. It was a failure of leadership”, Smith said, choking back tears as he was comforted by his father Peter.

“I need to take a deep breath and spend time with my family, friends and trusted advisers”.

“People know I worked so hard to get to this point in my career and to have given up that chance is devastating”, Bancroft said.

“You are affecting your parents and to see how my old man’s been…”

Asked at the news conference whether he had a message for young fans, Mr. Smith said: “Firstly, I’m deeply sorry”. The ICC has recognised that changes to the game are necessary; we feel that ball tampering should be treated with the seriousness that it deserves.

Before that, he had also apologised to cricket fans and players in South Africa, saying: “I have brought the game into disrepute on your soil, and I apologise 100%”. It emerged the conspiracy was Warner’s idea and involved a “leadership group” which included Smith and Bancroft.

“I don’t blame anyone”.

“As I stated before, I had no prior knowledge of the incident and don’t condone what happened at all”.

Bancroft was also emotional as he returned home in disgrace and apologized to his nation while holding back tears.

Sutherland further expressed sympathy for Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who have been facing bans for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal.

Wells added: “The Australian cricket team have been under nearly unbearable scrutiny”.

“I am extremely disappointed and regret my actions”.

Bancroft admitted he had not told the truth about the use of the sandpaper, instead telling the media in Cape Town in a moment of panic that he had used tape.

“As I said before”, he said.

Let’s be absolutely clear what we mean when we say ball tampering is not allowed.

“I know I’m a role model …” It was a bad decision, I played my part in that.

“I see in him a desperate leader trying to win a Test match for his country, his team”. Bancroft’s honest admissions and Smith’s tearstained apology for something that will haunt him for the rest of his life will ensure disgust is replaced with empathy.

“Yes, I am pretty sure that in a short span of time, we can make amendments to our code of conduct, easier to enforce and easier to up the level of sanctions on specific offences”.

But things have been quite different from normal since his name came up in the Ball-tampering scandal. “It goes to the spirit of the game”, said chief executive David Richardson.

Harper, who is Australian, said Smith had complained about the state of the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch after his team lost, and also “gave the impression that he wasn’t happy to be playing the Sheffield Shield match”.

Later, a heartbroken Smith read a statement to the cameras and answered questions.