https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_6XbTEHL38
Note sure if anyone's seen it but there is a video now doing the rounds of Bancroft during the Ashes tests.
He is seen at lunch or tea time, taking a teaspoon/s of sugar, emptying it into his hand and then putting said hand into his pocket.
This would be the first bit evidence that points towards a culture of cheating which may have been going on for much longer than one test. Really Mr Smith? You mean you only cheated the one time that we caught you? Sure guy. Suuuuure!
No doubt it will be denied but what use does a cricketer, who has now been shown to take part in ball tampering, have for a few teaspoons of sugar in his pocket?
Lets hope for the the Ozzies sake that there isn't more yet come from the review of the first few tests...and the Ashes!
Obviously speculating, but the way they got the ball to reverse even before it was 30 overs old, is mighty suspect. I actually cant recall earlier or better reversing from a bowler in recent history.
The Proteas also got it to reverse...a lot! Can anyone remember at what point it started to reverse for us? Normally it should start to reverse somewhere between 45 and 60 overs right?
A side note: Apparently Fanie De Villiers is the one who got the camera men to start looking for tampering. He said that he couldn't believe the ball was reversing so early on and that something had to be amiss.
The camera men started checking and within 90 minutes caught Bancroft in the act.
Could it be that there was an unannounced agreement between the sides? Tinfoil hat, i know!
What i think will happen
The ICC are a useless bunch on inconsistent ivory tower dwellers who cant be relied upon. A one match ban for the skipper and a fine for the offender in this case is just stupid if one considers the other relatively minor offenses that players had received bans for the past.
I think new evidence will come to light, as it already has, which will point toward a culture of cheating. I think Smith will play the victim to the coach's cheating ways and Smith will get a six month ban while the coach will be sacked.
Or...They are all in on it. The threats from CA will be severe enough that someone will grass the whole lot and we'll never hear the whole story since CA stands to gain nothing from full disclosure.
How can CA be the main party carrying out any investigation into this when it's clear that they have a vested interest in terms of damage control?
The ICC need to do a thorough investigation and in no way should CA be allowed to intervene.
Will the ICC carry out a half decent investigation? Not a chance in hell!