The 'Ban' act reduced Australia to Ashes
The team that was once crowned as 'The Invincible' of the world cricket is presently at its lowest point. Australian Cricket team is facing flak for the ball tampering scandal in the third test against South Africa in Cape Town. The team had already been under the scanner after the events of indiscretion and lack of sportsmanship in the recently concluded Test in the series against South Africa.
It all started with the ugly spat between Australian left-handed opener David Warner and the South African Wicket keeper Quinton De Kock in the Durban test. The trouble got deeper when the inexperienced Australian opener Cameron Bancroft was caught using an unfair method to change the condition of the ball and tried tampering it.
The cricket world has expressed shock over this act of disrepute by a team that has been an unstoppable force for years and are the 5-time world champion. Confession of this unfair act by Australian Captain Steve Smith has brought up the premeditated nature of this act drawing disdain. As speculated, it cannot just be a solo act of contravention by the 'leaders group' but may have involvement of Australian cricket support staff as well.
Sighting the immediate need to refrain from such violations, Australian Cricket board has sacked captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner from their posts. Considering the fact that the captain was aware of the ball tampering and had his consent, Steve smith was handed one-match ban and full match fees fine by ICC. However, Cameron Bancroft was handed 75% match fees fine.
Smith has also given up Rajasthan Royal's captaincy. The same is expected to happen with David Warner, who was named the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL.
The involvement of the present Australian coach and former middle-order player, Darren Lehman is also under the scanner. The details of the entire plot are expected to surface soon as the investigations have started in Cape Town.
Something not right with Australian Cricket
This thought is ringing bells in minds of every cricket lover. Australia is the oldest of cricket playing nations alongside with England. They have been the leader in world cricket for long enough to let everyone know and refrain that thought for years. Once, awarded with the title of 'The Invincible', is now facing humiliation and criticism.
Their performances have marred in the recent past. They have hardly won any Test series away from home. Especially, in the sub-continent. Apparently, they have lost the sheen of dominance.
Australians have been famous for contesting games with 'never say die attitude' and have always shown the spirit to do 'the unthinkable'. They have been the antecedents for other teams but are now somehow seeming to fade. Moreover, their conduct on and off the field has been a point of worry for many, including Australian Cricket Board.
Many former players and coaches, on the rising confrontations between players, have expressed their concerns over the atmosphere in the dressing room. Former coach John Buchanan thinks it is impossible that a coach is unaware of what is unfolding in the middle and has also called it 'unusual'.
Former left-handed opener Marcus North has questioned the recent behavior of the team. He said, "The behavior of the team recently has not been up to the standard expected. We have already seen a lot of issues in this series and this is another thing that has happened in his(Lehman) tenure. Michael Clark, WC2015 winning captain, called it 'premeditated cheating'. Australian Prime minister has said the incident is 'shocking and bitterly disappointing' and called for a speedy investigation.
England team's spearhead Stuart Broad called the incident 'shameful'. He found it difficult to understand the need of unfair scuffing of the ball to make reverse swing when conventional works well for Aussies. England team's Captain Joe Root termed it 'not great for Test cricket'. He said so while sharing the bitter anecdotes of Ashes series.
Legendary Australian Captain Steve Waugh is 'deeply troubled' by the events happened in Cape Town Test and believes that players involve in the scandal have 'failed the culture' of the side. The former captain, who led an indomitable side for six years, wrote on Facebook about the need for players to revisit the 'Spirit of cricket' document, re-binding players to it and ensure the spirit in which they play is safeguarded for the future of the sport, and to continue to inspire the dreams of every young kid picking up a bat and ball and for every fan who 'lives and breathes the game'.
He further demanded a 'focused and balanced perspective' in the condemnation of those involved in this, with a clear and critical consideration of the social impact and mental health of all players. He also added, "I will support all positive action to ensure an outcome for the betterment of the game, regaining the trust and faith of every fan of cricket."
The after effects were seen in the recently concluded Test in Cape town where SA bundled out Australia at 107, defeating the guests by 322 runs. It is like the long traveling ripples in water after a stone's throw.
The team that has inspired many is now drawing severe criticism for not just the row over 'ball tampering' incident but for the indecent behavior and down graph of their performances. It is time for them to pull themselves out of conceit of being 'the best', and contemplate over the wrongs that need to be fixed.