5 reasons why Steven Smith doesn't deserve a life ban

South Africa v Australia - 3rd Test: Day 3 — ICC has banned Steven Smith for one match and fined 100 percent of his match fees

The biggest developing story in the world of cricket right now is one that we all became familiar with when Cameron Bancroft was caught ministering to the ball in highly suspicious circumstances.

Since then, the cricket world has gone on a roller-coaster ride with Steven Smith, the now-condemned, former Australia captain, admitting to tampering with the ball during the third Test of the ongoing abrasive series against South Africa.

There have been rapidly developing twists and turns with everyone from former cricketers to even the Aussie Prime Minister having their say. Now, the International Cricket Council has gone ahead and banned Smith for one match and fined 100 percent of his match fees. Most people think this is too mild a punishment for what is an incident of blatant cheating. Some have called for a life ban on the star batsman.

Here's a look at why that would be the wrong path to take.

#1 Ball tampering is probably as old as the game

Cricketer Tony Greig Memorial Service — The venerable Michael Atherton has also been caught ministering to the ball

This isn't something Steven Smith and the Australians came up with, you know. He may be in the eye of the storm because of that shocking confessions, but cricketers far and wide have practised and will practice tampering with the ball.

It is a sure-shot way of ensuring prodigious amounts of unpredictable swing (both reverse and sometimes traditional) and several high-profile names have indulged in the same. It is even harder to catch in non-televised matches and is a trick many bowlers resort to.