Australia ball-tampering scandal: After one-year bans on Steve Smith, David Warner, cricketers express shock on Twitter

Sacked Australia captain Steve Smith and David Warner have both been banned for 12 months for their roles in the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, Cricket Australia (CA) announced on Wednesday, after uncovering a web of lies told by the players after they were caught.

Opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months following the scandal, which has outraged the fans, jolted the sponsors and prompted CA to send the players home from South Africa.

The trio will be allowed to compete in club cricket, but cannot take part in state or international games for the duration of their bans.

File image of Steve Smith and David Warner. Reuters

"David Warner will not be considered for team leadership positions in the future," CA said in the statement, having fingered him in developing the plot.

Smith and Bancroft will have to wait two years before they are considered for leadership roles, and even then it will "be conditional on acceptance by fans and the public," according to CA.

Each player must also complete 100 hours of community service before being considered for future selection, while it was confirmed that the cheat had been confined to the trio only, exonerating team mates and coach Darren Lehmann of any wrong-doing.

Needless to say, the entire episode has left fellow cricketers, both former as well as current, shocked, with the Australians especially at a loss for words after what has been described as one of the lowest points in Australian sport.

Let us take a look at some of their reactions on microblogging website Twitter: