I too would have cheated if instructed by senior players: Langer on ball tampering scandal

Langer has been appointed as Australia's new coach after Lehmann stepped down.

Bancroft is banned for 9 months from cricket post ball tampering scandal against South Africa. (Cricket Australia)

Newly appointed Australian coach Justin Langet has thrown his support behind discarded cricketer Cameron Bancroft for his undue involvement in the ball tampering scandal against South Africa ahead of the IPL. 

Langer said that he too would have the acted the same way has the senior players advised him to do so and therefore doesn't see Bancroft's fault in the entire episode. 

"If Allan Border had asked me to tamper with the ball I would've," Langer told Australia's Channel Nine.

"I would've because I would be too scared not to. The difference is Allan Border would never have asked me and Bobby Simpson would've killed me.

"He would've killed anyone who brought the game into disrepute. What I can't believe is that Cameron Bancroft walked into the Australian cricket team and he was in a position where he made that decision."

Bancroft was handed a nine-month ban from international and state cricket for his part in the scandal which erupted in the third test in South Africa in March and quickly engulfed Australian cricket.

Langer said his own experience had taught him that it was up to everybody in the team set-up to ensure the standards of behaviour expected of test cricketers.

"I walked into this Australian cricket changeroom with Allan Border, Steve Waugh, David Boon and Ian Healy and Bobby Simpson leading it," he recalled.

"You couldn’t help but become a better person and a better cricketer – because mate, that was a serious changeroom."

Australia will enter into a new phase of their cricketing legacy under the coachship of Langer and he is making it a point that Australia plays their cricket with good spirit and commitment. 

"If we can keep mentoring them and helping them, and they want to keep getting better and meet the standards of the Australian cricket team, then, of course, they’ll be welcome back," Langer concluded. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 11 May, 2018

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