Steve Smith and David Warner have stood down as Captain and Vice-Captain of the Australian Men’s Cricket Team for the remainder of the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal.
Tim Paine will step in as Acting Captain for the remainder of the Test. Both Smith and Warner will play under him as Captain.
“Following discussions with Steve Smith and David Warner they have agreed to stand down as Captain and Vice-Captain respectively for the remainder of this Test match,” Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said in a statement.
“This Test match needs to proceed, and in the interim we will continue to investigate this matter with the urgency that it demands.
“As I said earlier today, Cricket Australia and Australian cricket fans expect certain standards of conduct from cricketers representing our country, and on this occasion these standards have not been met.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Smith has admitted his involvement in the scandal, while young opener Cameron Bancroft has been charged by the match referee following the premeditated ball-tampering in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Australian Sports Commission this afternoon issued a statement on behalf of Chair John Wylie, CEO Kate Palmer and the Board to condemn the incident.
“The ASC calls for (Smith) to be stood down immediately by Cricket Australia, along with any other members of the team leadership group or coaching staff who had prior awareness of, or involvement in, the plan to tamper with the ball.
“This can occur while Cricket Australia completes a full investigation.”
Smith earlier said he would not stand down over the furore, despite accepting he and his leadership group discussed the merits of using tape to alter the ball at lunch on day three of the Test against South Africa.
Bancroft was caught with the tape, which had debris from the pitch, while working on the ball.
The 25-year-old also attempted to hide the tape from umpires, by stuffing it in his pants.
Bancroft now faces a hefty fine and either three or four demerit points, which could trigger a one-Test suspension.
Today, Sutherland announced a Cricket Australia integrity unit official would travel to South Africa to investigate on the ground.
“Australian fans want to be proud of their cricket team… I think this morning they have every reason to wake up and not be proud,” he said.
Ball-tampering was “neither within the laws of the game or in the spirit of the game,” Sutherland said.
“We are extremely disappointed and shocked at what we woke up to this morning, and secondly we are dealing with this issue with the utmost urgency and seriousness,” he added.
“I understand that’s not the form of response that everyone’s looking for right now,” Sutherland said, and refused to comment on speculation as to whether or not Darren Lehmann was aware of the tampering.
“We certainly don’t have all of the evidence at hand, and we need someone to go over there and talk to the relevant people…”
Stars outraged
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke was among the millions of Aussies stunned by the news.