Michael Holding, the former West Indies pacer, is still critical of the Australian team management for initially trying to cover up for the mistakes of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft in the Cape Town ball-tampering incident.
It was at the behest of Smith and Warner, the then Australian captain and vice-captain, that Bancroft went about rubbing the sandpaper on the red-cherry in order to alter its conditions and make it reverse during the ill-fated hours of the 2018 Newlands Test.
That, when played on the big screen, led to widespread criticism and questions over the Australian team culture, and Smith, Warner and Bancroft were subsequently banned by Cricket Australia (CA).
Two years since then, under now head coach Justin Langer and skipper Tim Paine, the three cricketers have returned to the international scene but in a revamped team culture, with greater focus on playing hard but fair.
Still, many feel the punishment handed out to the trio was too harsh as ball-tampering under ICC laws makes cricketers liable to be suspended for a Test, not a year like Warner and Smith were. Holding, however, disagrees with the notion that the fall out was a bit over the top.
"I don't think so," he told Sportstar, adding, "considering the level of punishments meted out to individuals and teams whose crime was to not bowl enough overs in a day. And I think the bigger crime was to try and cover up what took place instead of just taking it on the chin and apologising."
Holding was commentating during the series but he didn't see the incident live because of having just finished his stint. It was brought to his notice by his colleagues. "I went outside the Supersports comms box only to be asked by a commentator from another network if I had seen what happened," Holding recalled.
"I went back inside and watched all the replays from the various angles that were broadcasted and my immediate reaction was dismay. I couldn't believe anyone could be so naïve to do what he, Bancroft did in today's world."
Holding remembers playing against an Australian team that would never give away victory on a platter but maintained a certain level of dignity and respect.
"In my time of playing against Australia, I always considered them tough opponents who took no prisoners on the field but that's where the "war" ended," he said. "I can honestly say I was never the subject of any racial or personal abuse and never heard any either and I played against some tough guys. That said, sometimes what you hear through stump microphones these days, it seems times have changed and not for the better."
Holding also disagrees with the line of thought that says Warner and Smith are perhaps better for their experience.
"I remember seeing an advertisement that Smith did while under suspension, intimating his involvement in the scandal which in my opinion was in poor taste," he said. "It didn't suggest to me that there was any remorse. I don't know either gentleman so can only go by what I see."
(Inputs from Sportstar)
