After Australia captain, Steve Smith, along with team-mate Cameron Bancroft, publicly admitted to ball-tampering during the third day’s play in the Cape Town Test against South Africa, the collective integrity of the team has been called into question.
And Former Australia quick and erstwhile bowling coach, Craig McDermot is irked by the entire episode. “The ball-tampering issue is no longer an allegation. The players have actually been caught on television. It makes you feel very angry. It is a disgraceful day for the Baggy Green. This is a terrible thing to have happened,” McDermott tells Sportstar.
READ: Smith deserves longer suspension, says Ehsan Mani
McDermott, who is still grappling with the sheer 'silliness' of seasoned players like Smith and David Warner, feels Cricket Australia (CA) should find out whether any members of the support staff were privy to the proceedings. “I will leave it to CA on how they deal with the players. If any coaching staff is involved, they really need to take a tough stand on this. I am waiting to see what CA uncovers in the next three or four days”, he says.
With CA CEO, James Sutherland, travelling to South Africa to join the investigation, the indications of a bigger sanction for the team looks evident. McDermott — who quit as Australia’s bowling coach in 2016 — admits “it is going to be a difficult period and it’s going to take a long time for the players — present and former — and the Australian public to overcome it,” before indicating that this could even impact the team’s sponsorship.
READ: Sponsors 'deeply concerned' over Australia's cheating scandal
“The CA sponsors will also come into the scene, to understand what has happened. It will take time for people to evaluate things. Some of the sponsors will be evaluating the situation,” he says.
McDermott emphasised the importance of ensuring such acts are not repeated. “Firstly, they should not have done it. It is as simple as that. The way forward is not to do such silly things", the 52-year-old says.
Comments
SHARE