Clarke slams Aussies for 'pre-meditated cheating'

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has slammed the current team for “pre-meditated cheating” in the ball tampering scandal that has cast a pall over the side.

Opening batman Cameron Bancroft has been charged with ball tampering, after using a piece of tape to work on the ball during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

But it’s the shock admission from captain Steve Smith that the entire leadership group knew about the practice beforehand that has the cricket world reeling.

More:

» Steve Smith under pressure to quit

» Cameron Bancroft charged with ball tampering

Clarke has told Sports Sunday, the incident has plunged Australian cricket into one of its darkest hours.

“It’s pre-meditated cheating, it’s blatant cheating. It’s disgraceful, it’s not accepted by anyone,” he said.

“We’ve got the best bowling attack in the world, we don’t need to cheat to beat anybody.

“There’s only one priority right now for Cricket Australia, and that’s the future of our game. If people need to be sacked, if accountability needs to be shown, that’s the mistake that has been made.

Clarke said he’s not yet ready to call for the sacking of Smith as captain, until all the facts are known, but says Smith is not the only one in hot water.

“If something is to happen to Steve Smith, then the captaincy cannot go to anyone who has been involved in this situation.

“Australian cricket is bigger than any player, give it (the captaincy) to someone who had nothing to do with the conversation. I don’t care if it’s a kid playing his first Test, if you’ve got to bring someone in, it doesn’t matter.

“If they are going to make a tough stand on Steve Smith, then everyone that’s involved in this, no way can one of those players captain Australia.”

When pressed as to whether or not he would consider a comeback if Australia needed a new captain, Clarke did not rule it out.

“If I was asked by the right people, then I would think about my answer.”

The former skipper criticised the senior players for involving rookie opening batsman Bancroft in the debacle.

“I can’t believe the leadership group has made a decision to do this, that they’ve gone and got the young kid who’s playing his eighth test match to do that,” Clarke said.

“As a leader you can’t ask someone to do something that you’re not willing to do yourself.

“This is not a good look for the leadership group.

“This is pre-meditated, the team has made a set plan that we are going to cheat.”

Smith is refusing to quit over the incident, however that may be taken out of his hands, with the Cricket Australia board set to meet as soon as Sunday afternoon to discuss the crisis.