Warner apologises, says he put stain on game he loves

While a contrite Bancroft and tearful Smith each faced news conferences soon after their arrivals on Thursday, Warner waited two days to front the media.

Warner then launched into a long scripted apology to cricket lovers, Australians as well as South Africa. Fund manager Magellan Financial Group Ltd binned a three-year team naming rights deal, which was only seven months old, while sports apparel giant ASICS Corp and Commonwealth Bank of Australia joined other firms in dropping players caught in the scandal which has shaken cricket.

Smith and Warner, already stripped of their positions, were handed 12-month bans and Bancroft a nine-month suspension by Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday for conspiring to scuff up the ball with sandpaper during the third Test against South Africa.

A producer from an FM radio show has been inundated with abuse in his attempt “for cheap laughs” as a distraught Steve Smith broke down while addressing the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. But he also evaded questions about whether the ball-tampering plot was his idea, whether it was the first time, who else was aware of it and whether he had been made a scapegoat. Don’t know about u but I see in him a desperate leader trying to win a Test match for his country, his team.

“In a way, the sanctions handed down from the ICC and Cricket Australia are nearly the least of it”.

First of all I’d like to thank you all for coming this morning.

The ball-tampering episode has harmed the spirit of cricket but it shouldn’t define Warner and Smith, Rohit said in his latest tweet.

He said he anticipates the next 12 months will be tough and he will be using the time to reflect on his life.

Cameron Bancroft: The thing that breaks my heart the most is that I’ve given up my spot in the team for free.

“I hope the team rebuilds and the Australian public can forgive the young men and get behind the XI. But good people can make mistakes”, Lehmann said.

“Mistakes have been made which have damaged cricket”, Warner, who was Australia’s vice-captain, posted on social media. “We asked our listeners what we thought about this and we have opened up to them”, Deppeler said. “Takes a lot guts to do what they did today”.

Lehmann no stranger to controversyFrom “Captain Cry Baby” in the Daily Mail’s sports page to “Bawl-tampering – Crying shame of Aussie cheats” of Daily Star, the headlines accompanied the images of Smith crying.

“I’m here to accept my responsibility for the part I played in day three of [the] Newlands, Cape Town Test”, Warner said.

“It’s heartbreaking to know I won’t be taking the field with my teammates who I love and respect”.

“At the moment, my priority is to get these kids in bed, and rest up and get my mind a bit clear so I can think, and talk in a couple of days”. I hope in time I’m able to repay all you’ve given me and possibly earn your respect again.

“I want you to know that I fully support your review into the culture of the Australian cricket team. They don’t reflect on my values … and it’s something I’m really ashamed of and I’m so sorry for”.