Smith, Warner, Bancroft sent home, Lehmann keeps his job, Cricket Australia boss reveals
Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will be hit with "significant sanctions" and be sent home to Australia within the next 24 hours, Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has revealed.
Only the captain, vice captain and opening batsman had any prior knowledge of the ball tampering incident during the third Test against South Africa on Saturday, Mr Sutherland said.
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Coach Darren Lehmann had no prior knowledge and will remain in his position, Mr Sutherland said.
"No other players or support staff had prior knowledge and this includes Darren Lehmann … who has not resigned from his position .. he will continue as coach," he told a packed press conference in Johannesburg just after 4am AEDT.
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Australian captain Steve Smith (r) and Cameron Bancroft are spoken to by the umpires over ball tampering.
Sutherland has officially reported Smith, Warner and Bancroft for breaching article 2.3.5 of Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct.
Further sanctions are expected to be announced within the next 24 hours.
Smith, Warner and Bancroft will fly out of South Africa within the next 24 hours.
The three replacement players for the fourth and final Test starting on Friday are Matthew Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns.
The Cricket Australia Board has endorsed Tim Paine as captain of the Australian Test team.
AAP
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland apologised to kids over the ball tampering scandal. (AAP)
Mr Sutherland made a special apology to "all the kids who love cricket and idolise the players".
"I understand and share the anger and disappointment of Australian fans and the broader Australian community about the events that unfolded in Cape Town on Saturday," Mr Sutherland said.
"On behalf of Cricket Australia I want to apologise to all Australians that these events have taken place.
"I want to also apologise to Cricket South Africa and South African fans that this issue has overshadowed what should otherwise have been a wonderful series."
Mr Sutherland said the behaviour went beyond rule breaking and damaged the integrity of the Australian team.
Television cameras caught out Cameron Bancroft using sticky tape on the ball in the third Test.
However, he refused to use the word cheating when pressed on it several times during the press conference.
"This is not in the laws of the game," Sutherland said. "It’s not in the spirit of the game, and again I am angry and disappointed."
Asked again whether it was cheating, he said: "It is not a good day for Australian cricket."
