SA vs AUS 2018: Struggle ahead for Smith and Bancroft: Trevor Chappell

Smith has been suspended for the next Test in Johannesburg.

Ssmith - Bancroft has had a tough time answering questions related to the controversy. (ABC)

Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft have been facing the heat from the fans and the cricket experts alike after their alleged involvement in the sandpaper gate scandal in the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. 

As it turned out, Australia lost the Test match and are pegging back in the series. Not only that, Steve Smith has been suspended for the next Test and his teammates Cameron Bancroft and David Warner have hefty charges against them the results of which are awaited. 

Meanwhile, former Australian cricketer Trevor Chappell who bowled the controversial underarm delivery against New Zealand in 1981 has cited this moment as Cricket Australia's "darkest day."

On Saturday, Australian cricket was plunged into scandal after Smith admitted the team's leadership group had instructed Bancroft to deliberately interfere with the surface of the ball using a piece of yellow tape in the third Test against South Africa. 

Chappell has suggested the players involved could come to have their careers defined by the incident.

"What I did has lived with me ever since and it will be the same for Smith and Bancroft," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"They will struggle for the rest of their lives and be known as the ones who brought Australian cricket into disrepute.

"I'm the last one who comes up on Google as the man who took the lead role in Australian cricket's darkest day — it's a real relief I can finally drop that title."

Chappell's brother Greg later served as an Australian selector and India coach, while Ian Chappell went on to become a high-profile broadcaster.

Trevor feels his role as the man who executed the controversial delivery against New Zealand limited his potential upon retirement. 

"I thought it was a good idea to underarm bowl at the time but not these days," he said.I struggled a lot with it mentally, I was vilified for years and people will still ask about it.

"I don't know if my brothers have done better in life than me after what happened, Greg copped it at the time, but the quiet life certainly chose me after that — my marriage broke down and I never remarried or had kids."

Meanwhile, former cricket experts have criticised Steve Smith post his involvement in the scam.  Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has slammed Smith and held himself responsible for the entire scenario that Australia finds themselves in right now. Michael Vaughan then joined the chorus and accused Australia of ball tampering during Ashes. 

Former Australian skipper, Steve Waugh, however, demanded a focused and balanced perspective on the whole issue. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 27 Mar, 2018

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