Steve Smith confessed to tampering with the ball during break.
Moments after Cricket Australia stated that the board would investigate the ball-tampering scandal, the Australian government has asked the board to relieve Steve Smith of his role as captain. The PM feels that the person who leads the men who wear the baggy green should be responsible for his actions which is 'shocking'. Steve Smith and batsman Cameron Bancroft confessed to the matter in the post-match press conference on the third day of the third Test at Cape Town.
According to ESPN Cricinfo, Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull stated that the incident is a 'shocking disappointment'.
"We all work up this morning shocked and bitterly disappointed by the news from South Africa," Turnbull told reporters. "It seemed completely beyond belief that the Australian cricket team had been involved in cheating.
"I've spoken with David Peever, the Chairman of Cricket Australia, a few moments ago and I've expressed to him very clearly and unequivocally my disappointment and my concern about the events in South Africa.
The Australian PM has expressed his concern and feels that Steve Smith's actions are disappointing and should be relieved off the role as captain.
"It's their responsibility to deal with it, but I have to say that (to) the whole nation, who holds those who wear the Baggy Green up on a pedestal, about as high as you can get in Australia this is a shocking disappointment. It's wrong, and I look forward to Cricket Australia taking decisive action soon."
Steve Smith in the press conference stated that he has no desire of stepping down as captain and feels that he is still the right man for the job.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said that he was "extremely disappointed and shocked" by the news from the third Test on Saturday.
"Australian cricket fans want to be proud of their cricket team," Sutherland said. "I feel this morning they have every reason to wake up and not be proud of the team."
"One of the unique things about the game of cricket is it is to be played not only within the laws of the game but in the spirit of the game. And, activities on the field yesterday, are neither within the laws of the game or the spirit of the game."
Australia cricketers confessed to ball tampering in a desperate plot hatched by captain Steve Smith and senior players as they saw the third Test against South Africa slipping away.
Batsman Cameron Bancroft was tasked with carrying out the tampering by using yellow adhesive tape to pick up "granules" beside the pitch and rub it on the ball to rough it up in an attempt to get it to reverse swing on day three at Newlands.
But Bancroft was caught doing it on the field by television cameras, and then attempted to hide the evidence by shoving the tape down his trousers before he was questioned by umpires.
(With AP Inputs)
