The 2018 ball-tampering scandal has played a tremendous role in the improved behavior of the Australian cricketers.

Australia’s top cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were involved in the ball-tampering controversy two years ago which led to questioning the culture at Cricket Australia.

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Following the episode, the trio was banned from the game for one year and nine months (Bancroft) – which saw the appointment of wicketkeeper Tim Paine as Test captain and Aaron Finch as white-ball while Justin Langer replaced Darren Lehmann as head coach of the side.

Well, Paine was delighted to the improvement in the team’s on-field behavior. However, James Pattinson and Marcus Stoinis were aberrations in the domestic circuit last year.

Paine told reporters in a video conference: “You’re looking at one or two very isolated instances, one with Patto and one in the Big Bash. I think in general the behavior throughout cricket in Australia has improved. I think the players have done a great job of that.”

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He further added, “It’s still a really competitive environment where you’re going at each other... but I think certainly in the time I’ve been in cricket, the banter or abuse level has certainly changed.”

The Test captain also felt that Australian players’ mindsets have changed since the incident at Cape Town and he hopes the trend would continue at the Australian cricket.

Paine signed off by saying, “I think there’s still plenty of chat on cricket fields that I’ve been on. There are certainly still ways of getting in the contest and trying to get into players’ heads without flat-out abusing them, and I think that’s been shown by the Australian men’s team in particular.”

(With Reuters Inputs)