People who have benefited from the ball tampering scandal
Australia's ball tampering under Steve Smith has been one of the biggest news stories in cricket for many years. It has occupied the center of the world's sporting attention and even turned political as the Australian prime minister openly voiced his sadness at what had happened.
Cricket Australia sanctioned one-year bans for Steve Smith and David Warner while Cameron Bancroft was handed a less-severe nine-month ban. Obviously, it has been a tough week for cricket fans all over the world, but some people have actually benefited from the ball tampering scandal and its timing.
This article looks at three people who have gained from it.
#3 The England Cricket Team
Many people seem to have already moved on from England's disastrous first Test match against New Zealand. With everyone focused on the events unfolding down in South Africa, it is as if fans have already forgotten that England were skittled for just 58 all out in the first innings and that they ultimately lost by an innings and 49 runs to New Zealand. The match was even badly rain-affected, but the Kiwis' dominant first innings bowling display meant that they did not even need all the days.
The media have then not performed a full autopsy on England's shambolic performance since they were distracted by this much bigger news story. Moreover, this Test is England's first since their disastrous Ashes tour. Therefore, England were very lucky that the scandal was revealed when it was, or otherwise they would have been embarrassed in front of the world's press again.