Questions from us and our readers for Australia captain Steve Smith and his 'leadership group' over the ball-tampering row that has angered the world of cricket.
The Australian cricket team's ball-tampering in South Africa has dominated the sporting headlines around the world and there's certainly been no sympathy Down Under either, with former players, the Aussie Prime Minister and media condemning the actions of captain Steve Smith, team-mate Cameron Bancroft and the 'leadership group'.
Bancroft confessed to trying to use tape and dirt to change the condition of the ball on day three of the third Test in Cape Town - a match they later lost by 322 runs - while Smith admitted he and the leadership group "knew about it and spoke about it at lunch".
Smith was stood down as captain for the rest of the Test, fined his entire match fee and handed a one-match ban - but his long-term future Test captain is under intense scrutiny.
Head coach Darren Lehmann, absolved of guilt by Smith but with plenty of questions to answer as the team's ultimate authority figure, also faces an uncertain period.
Here, we have a list of open questions to Smith, Bancroft & the leadership team on behalf of the wider cricketing world but if you have any others, please send them in to editorial@sportinglife.com and we'll publish the best ones. Oh, and Steve, if you fancy replying to any of these then use the same address.
Our questions
- Was the minuscule gain you were trying to achieve really worth risking your entire reputations for?
- Were you aware the match was being televised? Not that these actions would be acceptable in a park league.
- Are you saying "sorry it won't happen again" just because you were caught?
- Did you wake up that morning and think, "right I'm going to cheat for the first time ever today and see if it works?"
- As the great Adam Gilchrist says, the "pre-planned and premeditated" nature of your actions means everyone will speculate that more has gone on. Has it?
- As holder of the unofficial second highest position in Australia behind the Prime Minster, you are trusted to lead by example. After this sorry episode How come you are leaving it to others to decide if you should continue as captain?
- Do you and the players involved not think they are talented enough to win by playing by the rules?
- How do you anticipate it feels to win by breaking the rules? Assuming you don't know.
- Had you ever heard of the phrases "you're only cheating yourself" and "cheats never prosper"? If so, did you think you'd be the exception?
- What do you say to all those aspiring cricketers who hold you as a role model? Time to find someone else?
Selection of reader questions
- Would you say once a cheat always a cheat? All results should be taken away from you under your captaincy (From Bradley Russell)
- What would you say to those who believe winning in the right way is more important than winning at all costs? (From Rob Jones)
- How does it feel to have put yourself in a position where you are too toxic for an IPL franchise coming back from a two year long ban for corruption? (Question from Paul Barrow)
- Why did you use bright yellow tape that stands out a mile against the whites you wear. Did you not think this through (From Marc Wilkinson)
- If you were getting reverse swing in the two previous Tests without cheating, as you say you weren't, why did you find it necessary to cheat in the latest test to obtain reverse swing? (From Gordon Hardy)
- As the captain, why didn't he didn't do the honourable thing and accept responsibility rather than throw the new guy under the bus? (From Dave Henderson)
- All those years building up to become the best batsmen in the world, now all the respect gone. Was it worth it? (From Nigel Osbourne)
- Why when the idea was bought up didn't you stamp it out (From Steven Grayson)
- I don't want to ask anything. I'd just ban then from playing for two years and leave them to rue their disgraceful actions. (From Neil Vest)
- How many of this leadership group came to the decision to tamper with the ball? (From Allan Mawson)