Australia admit deliberate ball-tampering after Cameron Bancroft caught cheating on TV cameras

Australia captain Steve Smith has admitted that his side deliberately tampered with the ball during the third Test against South Africa after batsman Cameron Bancroft was seen taking out an object from his pocket while shining the ball.

The incident, which has tarnished Australia’s reputation on the international stage, took place during South Africa’s second innings and the International Cricket Council [ICC] has already charged Bancroft, with Smith admitting that it was a decision taken by the “leadership group” within the team.

“The leadership group knew about it, we spoke about it at lunch,” Smith told a news conference.

"I am not proud of what has happened. It’s not in the spirit of the game, my integrity and the integrity of the team has been damaged and rightfully so. It's not on, it's certainly not and it won't happen again under my leadership.

"We thought it was a possible way to get an advantage, obviously it didn't work. It was a poor choice and I deeply regret our actions.

"I'm embarrassed and I feel for Cam as well. Being the leader of the team, I'm incredibly sorry for, I guess, trying to bring the game into disrepute."

But Smith – who was not joined at the press conference by coach Darren Lehmann – also insisted that he will not step down as captain.

“The coaches weren’t involved,” Smith added. “It was purely the players and the leadership group that came up with this.

"I won't consider stepping down. I take responsibility as captain and I need to take control of the ship. It's something I'm not proud of, I'm embarrassed. It's a big error in judgement and we'll learn from it."

The 25-year-old Bancroft was seen holding the ball when television cameras caught him producing a flat bit of material – that he later confirmed was a strip of sticky tape – from his pocket, with slow-motion replays being shown both on TV coverage and on the big screen at Newlands, and Bancroft then put the tape into the front of his trousers in an attempt to hide it.

He said that it was his intention to use granules of dirt from the pitch on the sticky tape to try and roughen the dirty side of the ball, which would aid Australia’s seam bowlers in being able to reverse-swing it.

"We had a discussion with the match officials and I've been charged with attempting to change the condition of the ball,” Bancroft said.

Cameron Bancroft

"I was in the vicinity when the leadership group were discussing it. I was obviously nervous and with hundreds of cameras it's always a risk.

"We had a discussion during the break and on myself, I saw an opportunity to use some tape and granules from rough patches of the wicket to change the ball's condition.

"Once I was sighted on the screen I panicked quite a lot, and that's why I shoved it down my trousers.

"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. But I am accountable for my actions as well. I'm not proud of what has happened.”

Umpires Richard Illingworth and Nigel Llong spoke to Bancroft at the time of the incident, and he produced what looked to be a sunglasses case from his pocket – though the black fabric did not look like the piece of material that he had put into his trousers seconds before.

While the two English umpires appeared satisfied with Bancroft’s explanation, the ICC has since launched a full investigation.

Reverse swing has been a major part of this series, and players can increase that by roughing up the ball with foreign objects, which is strictly prohibited in cricket.

Australia, who falling a long way behind in the game, appeared desperate for wickets to turn it around.

The Bancroft incident was the latest in a string of contentious moments throughout the series.

On Day two on Friday at Newlands, the Australians lodged an official complaint with their South African hosts over what they called the abusive behaviour of home fans in Cape Town. Australia coach Darren Lehmann said several of his players had been verbally abused by the crowd, abuse which included references to the players’ families. Lehmann called the fans’ behaviour “disgraceful” and Cricket South Africa ordered an increased security presence in the crowd on Saturday. That included police officers.

Earlier, South Africa wrapped up Australia’s first innings for 255 as Kagiso Rabada took the one Australian wicket that South Africa needed, removing Josh Hazlewood with an edge to Hashim Amla at slip. Rabada finished with four wickets, as did fellow pace bowler Morne Morkel.

Tim Paine was 34 not out for Australia which had resumed on 245-9.

South Africa opened up a potentially match-winning lead on day three, closing on 238 for five in their second innings to extend their advantage to 294 runs.

The four-match series is level at 1-1.

Additional reporting by AP