CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 24: Cameron Bancroft and Steven Smith (capt) of Australia having a chat with the umpires during day 3 of the 3rd Sunfoil Test match between South Africa and Australia at PPC Newlands on March 24, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Ball tampering: Papers rip Aussie cheats to shreds
No sympathy for the Aussies after cheating their way to a massive defeat.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – MARCH 24: Cameron Bancroft and Steven Smith (capt) of Australia having a chat with the umpires during day 3 of the 3rd Sunfoil Test match between South Africa and Australia at PPC Newlands on March 24, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
The running theme for the ongoing Test series between South Africa and Australia has been that of the match result being overshadowed by other incidents besides the contest between bat and ball and, in the recently concluded Newlands Test, the visitors have upgraded the controversy to pure scandal.
Australian captain, Steve Smith admitted to ball tampering after close of play on the third day of the Test match in Cape Town. This was after opening batsman, Cameron Bancroft was caught with his pants down… literally!
The home side routed the Aussies in the third Test to take a 2-1 lead going into the fourth and final match at The Wanderers, but their overall superiority in the match has shifted to the backpages, thanks to the losing side’s ball-tampering antics grabbing all the headlines.
If the culprits were expecting any sympathy for cheating their way into defeat, none was forthcoming as UK papers as well as those from back home absolutely tore into them, with The Times, calling it as they see it with a headline that simply read “CHEATS”.
Sunday TIMES Sport: “CHEATS” #bbcpapers#tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/bcZ5SAwqIQ
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) March 24, 2018
Tabloid, Mirror Sport also got in on the action, and their reaction to Bancroft getting himself into a sticky situation by being caught moving a piece of tape from his pocket to down under was pure gold.
MIRROR SPORT: Clown Under #tomorrowspaperstodaypic.twitter.com/VLD2kvVd18
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 25, 2018
The best of the lot came from Australia’s NT News, who ran with ” Why I’ve got a sticky near my dicky”.
OH DEAR … TOMORROW’S FRONT PAGE pic.twitter.com/gnudHxk8zs
— The NT News (@TheNTNews) March 25, 2018
Also from Down Under, Mail Sport questioned if their 4-0 routing of England in the 2017/18 Ashes series was legit in the light of recent events. This was after footage of Bancroft stocking up on extra sugar during a break in play in that series also came to the light.
MAIL SPORT: Did they cheat in Ashes too? #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/rr9edk7LWG
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 25, 2018
Very strong front pages in News Corp Australia newspapers today – sadly for a sporting moment we all wish never happened @newscorpaus #media #marketing pic.twitter.com/8K4oD1QaBC
— Michael Miller (@mm_newscorpaus) March 25, 2018
For his troubles, Bancroft had 75% of his match fee docked by the ICC, while his skipper, Smith will miss the final Test at the Wanderers as he copped himself a one-match ban to go with a fine of 100% of his pay.
Also read: Should South Africa offer refugee status to law-abiding Australian cricketers?
