We're all still waiting for the Wednesday morning announcement from Cricket Australia's James Sutherland (now in South Africa) regarding sanctions on Smith and Warner (and possibly others) following their sensational 'ball tampering' admission. Sounds like both may get a one year ban, which would be a very serious punishment indeed for two professionals.
In the meantime, to keep things in perspective, here's a Channel 9 (Australia) story based on feedback from current top Australian 'Big Bash' league player Chris Lynn:
"Ball-tampering is one of cricket's most open secrets and it has been for at least 50 years, Lynn said."
(It was of course the orchestrated, pre-planned nature of Smith's plot, together with other players, that has angered fans in Australia and the world over, and earned the wrath of the ICC, who have suspended him from the fourth Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.)
"I know he definitely won't do it again," Lynn said. "He's conceded (to it) but obviously it's not the Australian way. As a cricketer, it's not great waking up to that news... (but) he hasn't murdered anyone. The ICC have sanctioned the boys already and Cricket Australia (will) have their say."
Channel 9's coverage continued:
Despite the well-justified outrage that has unfolded since the incident in Cape Town, ball-tampering in one form or another remains something of an open secret in cricketing circles - but few players ever publicly own up to it.
As Lynn alluded, there are various shades of grey to the ball-tampering issue as well, and perceptions tend to differ based on the method used -- whether it be shining the ball with saliva from a sweet, or roughing it up with a foreign surface. (Remember that shining the ball by wetting it with saliva is legal.)
Unlike lower levels of cricket, international players face much closer scrutiny these days given the large number of cameras ready to catch out those who tamper with the ball. (See photo below.)
Many well-known Test players - like du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Shahid Afridi - have been accused of it or sanctioned for it over the years while revered figures like Tony Greig and Mike Atherton have previously confessed to it being an undeniable part of the game.
"Some may choose to deny it but most bowlers have technically indulged in ball-tampering," the legendary Greig told Cricinfo back in 2010.
