Should Steve Smith Step Down as Captain of The Australian Cricket Team? (Up: 12 month playing ban/24 months no leadership roles)

sss333 on 25/03/2018 - 18:32
Last edited 28/03/2018 - 21:05

After the ball tampering incident in the 3rd Test of the South Africa v Australia series should Smith give up the captaincy of the Australian cricket team?

Update 1 (thanks to jackofspade):
BREAKING NEWS Cricket Australia announce Steve Smith has stood down as captain for the remainder of Cape Town Test. Warner stood down as vice captain too

Update 2:

Steve Smith and David Warner have been banned by Cricket Australia for a year for their involvement in the Cape Town ball tampering scandal, where it has been confirmed sandpaper was used in an attempt to rough up the ball.

…

Smith and Bancroft will be eligible to hold a leadership role in the Australian cricket team again, but not for 12 months after they have served their bans.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/player-sanctions-steve-smith…

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    Yes
  • 64
    No
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    Bikies
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    Any Bargains?
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Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 25/03/2018 - 18:55
    +103

    Cheating bastards, sack the whole team.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 26/03/2018 - 00:19
      +62

      Every sack occasionally needs some ball tampering.

      • melbstheburn on 26/03/2018 - 12:27
        +16

        Giggidy

        • resisting the urge on 27/03/2018 - 13:19

          Perhaps they were just fulfilling their part of their 'enterprise bargain' after last year's strike over wages

          ie. To win more often, in return for mo money

          Or maybe with the extra money they were still unable to pay their butlers, lawyers and fifth wives out, so they had to take money from the online betting industry… again

          They should all be sacked, and replaced with overseas workers as there will be so few locals wanting to be paid to play cricket

        • Baghern on 27/03/2018 - 23:25

          @resisting the urge:

          estimated several 100 millions will be lost on tv rights… over a sticky tape… or some would say and some sugar… and a hand wrap…

        • [Deactivated] on 28/03/2018 - 10:29
          -3

          @Baghern:
          How stupid could they be? I mean what did they think? In front of that many people and cameras!
          But anyway I don't give a rats shit about cricket, it's a shitty shit after all. I don't understand why people care so much.

        • resisting the urge on 28/03/2018 - 11:35

          @pal: This is not a matter of sport. It is a matter of corruption.

          These are not children having fun.

          They are grown ups making a living. Getting paid. And clearly paid to cheat.

          Paid by who?

          Who makes the most out of predicting the scores?
          - to be tempted to influence the scores, or to try to influence
          - the organisers
          - influence the coach
          - the captain
          - an intelligent, capable player
          - a boof-head player

          Coach not involved? Really? Who is pedaling this claim in the ACB? Why, when:

          None of the scenarios have been adequately investigated yet. There has not been enough time to establish the most likely scenarios, let alone think of all the possible ones.

          Have all the money trails been investigated and followed back to the source?

          Everyone knows the culture has been broken, the only question is, by who? Sweeping it under the carpet is (at best) not an option and at worst, an indicator of culpability.

          The elephants in the room are Gambling companies, large punters, money launderers, organised crime gangs (local and global), intelligence services hiding activities or payments, crooked cops, crooked pollies, etcetera.

          If the solution is sackings and rules, the barrier to entry for the above list (the usual suspects) just gets higher. They are the root cause, only controls that affect them directly can make any real difference

        • Baghern on 28/03/2018 - 12:06

          @pal:

          because they got away with it previously… well until people started poking around Warner and his abrasive hand wrap… they roped a newbie in

        • resisting the urge on 29/03/2018 - 11:23

          @Baghern: If it happened in Australia, it's a job for the AFP. But overseas? Are the police not investigating there?

          Maybe it's a job for the 'old boys network' again, so they can hush it up and sweep the whole festering mess under the carpet.

    • SlickMick on 26/03/2018 - 19:20
      +16

      take their passports. They've tarnished the whole country's reputation. This is treason.

      • Iggemo on 26/03/2018 - 21:24
        +5

        it's just sport.. let's not overreact

        • SlickMick on 27/03/2018 - 10:04
          +5

          is it just sport? So we're going to hold a high standard in something else, but in sport "who cares"?
          And we can say "trust us, we only cheat in sport"

        • Iggemo on 27/03/2018 - 11:16
          +23

          @SlickMick: i didn't say "who cares". But i'm not sure that Aus cheating in cricket deserves the wall to wall outrage from the PM down to every journalist in the country for an entire week or so the way it has happened. The reportage has been that of someone committing a heinous crime, as though these guys had child porn on their computer or something.

          Just simmer down, it's just sport. There are more important things going on in the world atm (such as our government throwing away $65 billion) than whether or not some aussies tampered with a ball, for heaven's sake. Get some perspective.

        • rlay3 on 27/03/2018 - 18:15

          @Iggemo: sport is VERY big in Australia

        • tromboc on 27/03/2018 - 23:44
          +2

          @Iggemo:

          (profanity) hear hear.

        • Iggemo on 28/03/2018 - 11:17
          +2

          @rlay3: I think my feelings are kinda summed up by this tweet doing the rounds:

          https://scontent.fbne3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/29542359_159…

        • rlay3 on 28/03/2018 - 11:58

          @Iggemo: hmm I got "Bad URL date param"

        • Iggemo on 28/03/2018 - 12:02

          @rlay3: You are quite right- my bad. I've edited it and it should work now, cheera.

        • rlay3 on 28/03/2018 - 12:40
          +1

          @Iggemo: haha so true. Not saying I disagree, but it's a fact from my perspective that we're a sporting nation.

          I can't walk around the office or pub without hearing sports talk.

          The media hypes it up because they know the story will "sell" so to speak.

        • Iggemo on 28/03/2018 - 13:49
          +1

          @rlay3: Oh i understand. But in the current context where a 10 year old who has multiple suicide attempts is not permitted to visit Aus to have medical treatment for medical issues - despite there not being sufficient faculties on Naura - it seems ridiculous to suggest the cricketers are the arbiters of moral rectitude for this country.

          Totally agree with you, just think it's sad. I wish Aussies were this outraged about modern politics as they are about modern sport. Shows everything wrong with our society. What's that old Roman quote about give them bread and circuses? Seems to come to mind for some reason… : (

        • SlickMick on 28/03/2018 - 17:16
          -1

          @Iggemo:
          You went back to it again "it's just sport". What I'm trying to make you understand it isn't just sport. How are you going to teach kids cheating in sports is okay but in other environments it's not.
          Either we're a civilised society or we're not.

        • Iggemo on 02/04/2018 - 13:47

          @SlickMick: So torturing young children in Nauru is fine with you - that doesnt reflect on "what we teach kids" or our national persona, but what we do in a cricket match does?

          Can you please explain how cricket players became to carry the moral impetus of a country as opposed to what happens in actual real world politics and treatment of individuals?

          A 10 year old wanted to come to aus after multiple suicide attempts and having bodily issues, but Dutton said no. So this doesn't make us look bad, but the cricket does?

          Do you realise how silly this looks?

        • SlickMick on 02/04/2018 - 19:07

          @Iggemo:
          When did I comment on torturing children or politics or anything else your going on about? We're talking about ethics in cricket.

    • cloudy on 26/03/2018 - 22:33
      +1

      yea, this is definately not their first time. He lied about that too. You don't do this kinda thing as a once off, lets chat about this over lunch with a bunch of mates.

    • whey4000 on 27/03/2018 - 12:36

      Ban Faf as well? He has been done twice….

    • sigh on 27/03/2018 - 18:50
      +1

      everyone seems to forget du pleiss, the south african captain, has been convicted twice of ball tampering in the last few years and most recently in the last test series against australia.
      i don't agree with what smith has done at least admitted they're idiots, unlike du pleiss who denies being a cheater despite the bloody obvious being caught on camera. In my opinion that makes south africa team ethics worse as they refuse to accept responsibility.
      ban the boys for a couple games and make them earn their positions back, the shame they carry will be enough, which will be more punishment then any ball tamperers have gotten in the past.

      • snapper on 27/03/2018 - 21:04
        -1

        Short memories people have! Philander was also convicted of ball tampering, fined 75% of match fee but no suspension. Objectively (hard to do as a sports fan), is the reaction to this current affair overstated? Doesn't make what they did right (trying to gain an advantage by tampering with the ball) but there are precedents for ball tampering convictions, most of which did not even get banned for a test match.

      • Baghern on 27/03/2018 - 23:27

        That's South Africa… issue.

        There is no evidence of a "leadership" premeditated tactic…

        • sigh on 28/03/2018 - 00:07

          Du plessis is their captain. The leadership was caught ball tampering. Using a sugary lolly to shine the ball, that’s the team leader deliberately choosing a lolly to suck on in order to tamper with the ball and cheat.
          Ticks the boxes of leadership and premeditation.
          He’s been busted twice. Shows a pattern too. The southafrican captain is showing signs of being a serial cheater. But there’s no outrage that we have to play him,?
          It’s a bit overblown at thus point, the shame is punishment enough for these guys, banning for a year by CA? that’s a joke.

        • Baghern on 28/03/2018 - 12:08

          @sigh:

          Remind me when Cricket Australia has lordship over other national cricket team… I'll be right behind you with my pitchfork…

          We have all whined about it.. thats as much as we can do.

    • Cricket on 27/03/2018 - 19:53

      Nope just the leadership group ..

    • 777 on 27/03/2018 - 21:16
      +2

      Unfortunately we don't have great reserves like India or South Africa
      We need the rest of the team

  • tassieeagle on 25/03/2018 - 18:55
    +45

    Yes he should have already. Any person involved in the incident should be removed from their positions (e.g. Captain and vice captain etc) and banned for a substantial time

  • mooney on 25/03/2018 - 19:02
    +19

    I’m amazed people are voting No.

    If you did vote no I’d love to hear your reasoning.

    • iforgotmysocks on 25/03/2018 - 19:03
      +34

      I voted for bargains. We like to see bargains.

      • mooney on 25/03/2018 - 19:04
        +7

        Maybe keep your eye out for cheap cricket tickets??

        • macrocephalic on 26/03/2018 - 12:15
          +3

          That's not a bargain.

        • kasp on 26/03/2018 - 16:07
          +4

          Well they cheapened the team thats for sure.

          Also the going rate of AUstralia's reputation has been slashed.

        • berry580 on 27/03/2018 - 08:01

          @kasp: cheapen the team. Lol

      • sss333 on 25/03/2018 - 19:09
        +3

        I was just going to go with Bikies as the option for people who don't care but I added the Any Bargains option just for you since you often ask in forum posts, turned out to be more popular than Bikies.

      • polarq on 26/03/2018 - 19:32

        Have you forgotten your socks again?

      • kangaroo on 27/03/2018 - 11:39

        Steve Smith is now a bargain buy, can't command the same salary of 2 Million with future IPL contracts (if any)

    • tonsta on 26/03/2018 - 01:10
      +2

      someone told me once "its OK to cheat, just don't get caught"… he was a cricket coach, thanks for the advice Dazza.

      • macrocephalic on 26/03/2018 - 12:16
        +2

        Everybody cheats, but only cheaters get caught.

      • daleyboy79 on 26/03/2018 - 14:40
        +1

        My English teacher had a similar saying "If you can cheat and get away with it … good on ya … but i'll have zero sympathy if you get caught!"

        • SlickMick on 26/03/2018 - 19:24

          I hate that we have role models with no morals.

        • berry580 on 27/03/2018 - 08:02

          @SlickMick: Get used to it then.

          "They never asked to be role models", not in my words.

        • SlickMick on 27/03/2018 - 10:06
          +1

          @berry580: Whoever's words they were needs to get the boot. The role comes with responsibility.

        • berry580 on 27/03/2018 - 23:46

          @SlickMick: I'm not endorsing it, but let's face it, when druggos, rapists, gang rapists, girlfriend bashers, wife bashers, road ragers, etc are commonly Aussie sports stars, a sandpaper cheater isn't really much in comparison.

          People is making a mountain out of a mole hill simply because it's in international spotlight.

          Not saying any of that is right, I'm simply trying to put things into perspective here.

        • Baghern on 28/03/2018 - 12:10

          @berry580:

          international spotlight.

          ding ding ding ding….

        • SlickMick on 28/03/2018 - 17:20

          @berry580:
          So where is the line? You'll need to keep defining your list, the "it's okay to cheat in these scenarios" vs "this is unacceptable".
          Personally, if I had a business I wouldn't trust these guys at a cash register either.
          What scares me is there is a whole heap of people on this forum who also apparently have no ethics.

        • berry580 on 28/03/2018 - 18:17
          +1

          @SlickMick: let me clarify, it is NEVER ok to cheap.

          He's been called out, he had to step down, that's a massive blow to his career if there's still anything left. He got what he deserved.
          Then there's these media that keeps picking on him because they're unable to find something that's more news worthy.

          Sportsman in general are not role models. The ones who are, like Roger Federer are the exception, not the rule.
          It's either I have standards that are too high, or other's standards are too low.

    • Ugly on 26/03/2018 - 08:18
      +7

      Because he shouldn't get the option to stand down - he should be publicly sacked?

    • chumlee on 26/03/2018 - 11:41
      +1

      I'm amazed people care.

      Cheating is in every sport these days thanks to gambling. Point shaving is at every level.

      There's even drug cheating in curling.

      The only sport to believe is wrestling as they tell you it's fake

      • Scrooge McDuck on 26/03/2018 - 12:49
        +2

        Professional wrestling is a performance not a sport.

      • SlickMick on 26/03/2018 - 19:25
        +3

        I think we're approaching the end of this society

      • Baghern on 27/03/2018 - 23:30

        different type of caring…

        People who don't follow, like cricket feel the have vested interest… that's how deep Cricket is in Australia

    • field1985 on 26/03/2018 - 14:36
      +8

      He should not have been "allowed to step down". He should be been banned for life.

      What kind of example does this set for the nations schoolkids?

      • aussie-bargainer on 27/03/2018 - 09:15
        +2

        He might have learned this from Mark tailor and ponting. I see nothing new in his behaviour. Aussie cricket team has always been a step ahead in doing against sportsmanship of the game. Wrong appealing, sledging, resist comments on fields, claiming catches, looking at dressing room for review decision and so on.

        And those who says this is not first ball tempering, what example you want to set for next generation? We don't know how long they are doing this.

    • ATangk on 26/03/2018 - 15:35
      +10

      My vote for no stands to reason:
      This is not the first ball tampering incident, I don't know if he is just covering up for his teammate and assuming responsibility. Things like the PM telling us that its a disgrace is absolute bollocks because his own performance in his job is a disgrace. There are more pressing matters than ball tempering that should be dealt with. Blown way out of proportion is what I'm thinking.

      • SlickMick on 26/03/2018 - 19:29
        +2

        There is a whole serious of people who need to go for this. If somebody's mum knew and didn't act, she needs to go to.
        And yes, no-one who wants to be a politician would qualify if I got to set the rules.
        But this "somebody else is worse so my behaviour is acceptable" is going in the wrong direction.

        How about "Jesus was good - we all need to lift our game".

      • arcticmonkey on 26/03/2018 - 20:44
        +1

        +1 that Turnbull's performance is a disgrace.

      • kiteo on 27/03/2018 - 12:12
        +1

        Sport might not be that important compared to politics, but within the purview of sport, I gather that it is extremely serious. It is not a zero sum game to deal with ball tampering and deal with political issues - each have their own domain! If the rules of sport have been soundly and roundly broken, then deal with it in the proportional way. Get rid of corruption.

    • beathy on 26/03/2018 - 15:59
      +5

      This sums it up fairly well.

      http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/comment-isnt-anyone-pre…

      • SlickMick on 26/03/2018 - 19:29

        No, but a few people should fall with him

      • shaiguy on 28/03/2018 - 10:39

        Exactly this, it's not like he exactly fixed a game. In my opinion it is way overboard. Look at other sports:
        Rugby league/union
        - players try to came a Try (even though they know they dropped the ball)
        - players will try to intentionally strip the ball illegally (e.g. 2 players in tackle for league).
        Cricket
        - players have tried to claim catches knowing they certainly did not.
        - many other teams have tried and have tampered with the ball. This one was not even that successful.
        Other:
        - New England Patriots did not pump the ball that much and won superbowl a couple of seasons ago. Tom Brady is still there.
        - in tennis, female players grunt so loudly to put the other player off.
        - soccer - hand of god, feigning injuries then getting up straight away, etc.

        Not saying he did not do anything wrong, and maybe a suspension is warranted but one thing he did is own up to it and not just let the young player cop it all. I mean Faf Du Plesis current South African captain has been charged with ball tampering TWICE… yes TWICE! Sachin Tendulkar was charged with ball tampering but because of the strength of the ICC it was overturned. Like I said - if they just all denied it like the other players it would be a lot better in a way but I believe they tried to do the honourable thing and tried to own up to it… and the reaction has been much worse. Perhaps they should have just taken the Shaggy approach.

    • cheapo123 on 27/03/2018 - 11:57
      +1

      Well the south African captain faf. Has been caught twice ball tampering and he is still captain. The difference between this and Smith is that Smith had to admit it while faf denied all the way even though it was obvious.

      Also the icc don't really see this as a serious offence. It not going to give one side a massive advantage. The conditions did really suit it so tbh south African would have benefited this more.

  • havebeerbelywillsumo on 25/03/2018 - 19:05
    +4

    Yes, all involved should be shown the door….hopefully contracts won't be a problem but probably were written in a most PC nanny state way :( so "damages" will be claimed by players for unfair dismissal.

    • whey4000 on 27/03/2018 - 12:36
      +2

      Ban Faf as well? He has been done twice….

  • doweyy on 25/03/2018 - 19:08
    +5

    I feel like he should be shown the door alongside anyone else involved but not indefinitely. I can't see Australia being a threat at all if we lose our captain because I can't see David Warner doing a good job as captain..

    Such a dumb move, why risk your career just to get a small advantage in a test match.

    • snapper on 27/03/2018 - 21:07

      Such a dumb move, why risk your career just to get a small advantage in a test match.

      This! I'm sure they did not think about this at the time nor realise what reaction they have received when caught. Shows how hard-fought, win-at-all costs this sport (and many others) have become.

  • Islund on 25/03/2018 - 19:08
    +6

    Was hearing the smurf on tv where he said he would be feeling very guilty even if the episode had not been caught on camera.

    I am still chuckling at that one.

  • Ss-ss on 25/03/2018 - 19:15
    +3

    Waiting for 50% off
    http://www.kmart.com.au/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDis…

  • Lunarboogie on 25/03/2018 - 19:19
    +8

    What Smith did was an appalling demonstration of poor judgement and I can't see anyway he can ride this out. Now, Smith can either do a Barnaby Joyce and pretend he can forestall the inevitable or he can bow out with grace now and potentially save his spot on the team. As for Warner, that bozo has surely run out of lives. He's a blot of the cricketing landscape.

  • jackofspade on 25/03/2018 - 19:31
    +3

    BREAKING NEWS Cricket Australia announce Steve Smith has stood down as captain for the remainder of Cape Town Test. Warner stood down as vice captain too

    • omgitzrick on 25/03/2018 - 19:52
      +25

      Not good enough.

    • Will Mcdonald on 26/03/2018 - 21:37

      should stand down from cricket aswell. Need some better cricket players aswell, Australia is slowly getting crapper and crapper @ cricket.

      • snapper on 27/03/2018 - 21:09

        Should previously convicted players stand down/be banned as well? 2 in the current SA team.

        • Will Mcdonald on 27/03/2018 - 21:20

          depends on the crime. Pedophiles, rapist and murders should be taken out back and shot. But Australia will probably send them to jail for 2 months with tax funded steak dinners.

        • snapper on 27/03/2018 - 21:24

          @Will Mcdonald: Interesting comparison. But those 2 were convicted of the same "crime" - ball tampering. One of them twice. What is the appropriate level of punishment? ICC has guidelines, and there are precedents. See my comment here regarding the "moral indignation" compared to the offence.

        • Will Mcdonald on 27/03/2018 - 21:31
          +1

          @snapper: banned for life and a big fine, its a privilege to represent Australia in sports. Taxpayers don't fund cheaters to represent Australia, but we fund athletes like Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman, Pat Rafter etc. Giving them the opportunity to show their talent.

  • Halc on 25/03/2018 - 19:42
    +7

    the stupidity of it all, you could not have developed a better plan for professional suicide if you tried

  • [Deactivated] on 25/03/2018 - 19:46
    -8

    Relax, folks.

    AFL players are doped up to the eyeballs every weekend for their 80-minute overpaid run around the oval. What's the issue when other sporting codes do the cheating?

    At least the cricketers admitted to it.

    • Baysew on 26/03/2018 - 08:30
      +9

      Because other sports are just not cricket.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 26/03/2018 - 13:05
        +2

        I am deeply disillusioned by this revelation. In contrast to the thuggery and debauchery which goes on in the other sports we're good at, cricket was a bastion for positive role models for children, nevermore!

        All the best to the Socceroos in Russia.

    • Toons on 26/03/2018 - 19:59
      +4

      They denied it first, Only admitted it once it was revealed they had the footage of him shoving the tape in pants when he felt they were getting suspicious.

      So not exactly a hands up yeah you got me

  • omgitzrick on 25/03/2018 - 19:51
    +19

    No. He should be sacked. Not just as captain but he should be suspended for at least 12 months, along with Warner and Bancroft. I feel for Bancroft being a young promising player put in this position by his captain, but he’s a grown man and should have said no.

    Boof should probably stand down because he either knew or he’s lost the dressing room.

    • coco1458 on 25/03/2018 - 20:46
      +1

      I'm all for suspension but reality is that he'll probably cop a 2 match ban and match fees deducted.
      As for Bancroft, he's in a tough position because he's a young and promising player but if he said no, he's not going to get selected again.

      Boof never wants to have his say unless the team wins, but at the end of the day he's got blood all over his hands and should step down.

      • omgitzrick on 25/03/2018 - 21:03

        Yep I think you’re probably right unfortunately but I feel they should be held to a high standard representing the country. We shall see.

        • coco1458 on 26/03/2018 - 07:29

          Looks like I'm actually harsher than the ICC. Smith copped a 1 match suspension.
          Bancroft with a 75% match fee deduction.

          But that's just the ICC, who knows what the ACB will do about them but my guess is that there'll be some sort of penalty and then life will go on.
          Ball tampering is big for about a month and then everyone just moves on

        • omgitzrick on 26/03/2018 - 10:02
          +3

          @coco1458: I suspect Cricket Australia will come down MUCH harder than the ICC did. The ICC's "action" is a joke.

        • FUZHA on 27/03/2018 - 10:01
          +2

          @omgitzrick: Certainly ICC's "action" is bloody joke, where they ban captains for 2 matches etc for slow over rate, but not for a serious offense which tarnishes the game.

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