Who Said What: Australia send Smith, Bancroft and Warner home; Lehmann survives

Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will miss out on the fourth and last Test match

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland recently announced that the trio of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will miss out on the fourth and last Test match of the series against South Africa and travel back home. The decision has been taken in the aftermath of the Sandpaper Gate fiasco.

Coach Darren Lehmann's position, though, is safe for now and the former international cricketer will see off his contract. Glenn Maxwell, Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns have been named as replacements for the three who'll miss out. Tim Paine will lead the team in the only match left in the series.

CA chief Sutherland clarified that sanctions on the three players will be announced later after the investigation is complete. He went on to assure that penalties will be "significant", signalling that considerable bans will be imposed on the players involved.

Here's how the cricketing fraternity reacted to CA's decision.

James Taylor

This “leadership group” of Smith and Warner” seems pretty small to me...🤔 in my experience of playing bowlers know/always want to know what’s going on with the ball when they’re trying to get it reverse/conventional swinging... #SandpaperGate #SAvAUS
— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) March 27, 2018

Finding it really hard to believe that Darren Lehmann and others weren’t aware of what was going on 🤥🤔 #SandpaperGate #SAvAUS
— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) March 27, 2018

Simon Hughes

Lehman ‘didn’t know’ about ball tampering plans. Keeps his job
— simon hughes (@theanalyst) March 27, 2018

Matt Prior

I can’t believe for one minute that only three players knew what was going on...bowlers, coach and bowling coach weren’t involved in discussions of how to get the ball moving...whether it be by cheating or not! 🧐🤨 #sandpapergate
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) March 27, 2018

Alex Tudor

Heard the interview in the car home, sorry I am not buying that only three players knew about it. So your telling me the bowlers who are to ball with it knew nothing!!! #SandpaperGate pic.twitter.com/J0xyajj3PA
— Alex Tudor (@alextudorcoach) March 27, 2018

Michael Vaughan

Me thinks the Hole has just got a little deeper & bigger for Cricket Australia .....
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 27, 2018

Only 3 people knew ........ #MyArse
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 27, 2018

Murali Kartik

I am not someone who generally comments on most things but to say that the coach and the other bowlers didn't know anything about what was happening is a bit too hard to firstly chew&secondly digest.. Anyways
— Kartik Murali (@kartikmurali) March 27, 2018

Kevin Pietersen

Lehmann never knew - 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥🤥
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 27, 2018

Michael Clarke

To many reputations on the line for the full story not to come out. Cape Town change room is a very small place!
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 27, 2018

Andrew Flintoff

Said my piece on ball tampering no more from me cause I don’t know what’s more distasteful the actual incident or the number of people enjoying what’s happened and milking the life out of it ! #moveon
— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) March 27, 2018

Harsha Bhogle

My view is that the sanctions have been decided and that legal opinion is being sought before announcing it.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 27, 2018