And it all "balls" down

It is a bright and sunny day. The event is the third Test, which is part of the 4-match test series of Australia Vs South Africa. The match is underway, though Australia heavily lags behind. Suddenly, the cameras capture an astounding scene. The person who is captured in the cameras is blissfully unaware that he has been caught red handed and continues his nefarious activity. And suddenly, there is an uproar from the stadiums, which startles the person, and he stares up in shock, and a few seconds later, realizes that his career is finally, or almost close to being over. The person in question: Cameron Bancroft. The ‘nefarious activity’ he was caught engaging in: ball-tampering, meaning that he had been caught applying or using sandpaper on the ball (which would make the ball rougher than usual, thereby increasing the opportunities for the bowlers to get more reverse swings).

A few days after he caught on camera, the entire Australian cricketing community as well as the people of Australia felt the shame of it all and felt cheated and expressed outrage over this scandal, and what’s more, Aussie cricket coach Lehmann, Aussie vice captain David Warner and Aussie skipper Steve Smith were found guilty of ball tampering charges as well, with information later coming out that Smith and Warner had spearheaded the ball tampering while keeping the other teammates (Josh Hazelwood, Mitchell Starc etc) out of the loop.

Australia first tried to deny such charges, but later realized the futility of such denials as Cameron Bancroft had been caught on the camera while rubbing the ball with sandpaper. And after they were charged with the incident, they were subject to another series, though nothing that involved green patches of grass or wickets at all, but instead, a single chair, a dark or improperly lighted room, a semi circular table with a group of men in suits with the upper half of their faces invisible, and a quiet hum indicating perhaps an air-conditioner. Yes, I’m referring to an enquiry, or a series of enquiries which they were all subjected to.  And this was just the beginning, because, a few moments or one or two days after the enquiries, the CA (Cricket Australia) Board banned Steve and David for an entire year whereas Cameron got a nine month ban. Also, the three players were told to leave for Sydney as soon as possible. Upon their arrival, (as was expected), they were subject to a barrage of insults as well as an outpouring of grief from people who had become disillusioned with the game. All three of them maintained their respective silences until a few days ago, when, all of them broke down at their respective press conferences, ultimately expressing their genuine regret at having committed an error that should not been even thought of in the first place. It was at this juncture that coach Lehmann was cleared of all charges and declared to be honest, with the brunt now falling on the three players I have named above. However, the ordeal for their fans was not yet over, as David and Smith are also banned from playing for and leading their respective IPL (the Indian Premier League) teams, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and the now erstwhile Pune Supergiants (PSG) by the Board of Cricket Control India (the BCCI). Cricketing God Tendulkar too publicly praised the decision of the BCCI by saying that they had taken the correct decision by not allowing either Warner or Smith to play.

And Warner, when he heard of this, simply fastened the proverbial nail on his own coffin by saying that he was seriously considering not playing for Australia after his ban got over.

Well, that’s all and my friends, and also, the IPL is just 5 days away now!! :D. #DeGhumaake.

Ciao until the next time, folks.