South Africa vs Australia: Twitter outrages as Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith admit to ball-tampering in 3rd Test

Australia cricketers have admitted ball tampering in a stunning public confession on Saturday.

Batsman Cameron Bancroft says he attempted to tamper with the ball and captain Steve Smith says the team’s senior players planned it.

Bancroft was caught on television cameras holding a small yellow object which he said was a piece of sticky tape to try and tamper with the ball during day three of the third Test against South Africa. Bancroft said he tried to pick up rough granules from the side of the pitch with the sticky tape and rub it on the ball to try and change its condition.

Bancroft said he had been charged with ball tampering by the match officials after the day’s play.

Smith said the team’s “leadership group” came up with the idea to try and cheat to bring Australia back into the match.

He said coaches did not know about the cheating. In a hugely embarrassing moment for Australian cricket, Smith said he was “not proud at all” but insisted he would not resign the captaincy. The incident, meanwhile, has sent shockwaves across the cricketing world as well as on social media, with many a Twitter user expressing shock over the latest set of developments. Let us take a look at some of the reactions:

The first rule of tampering with the ball is to do it only when you play at home and the broadcaster has your back #SAvAUS

— Hemant (@hemantbuch) March 24, 2018

Oh no ! Bancroft. Very embarrassing. From the looks of it, this is not on. Haven't seen a series marred by controversies like this one in a long long time. The Cricket has been great, but this .. #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/2uNhxtBXTv

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 24, 2018

In this day and age surely you must know that there are cameras all over the ground. How daft was that #CameronBancroft? #sandpapergate pic.twitter.com/mOPqb9VhAB

— Vincent Barnes (@VincentBarnes60) March 24, 2018

With inputs from AP