Cricket Australia CEO: Cheating is an appropriate word to use

Sutherland went on to stress the punishments handed down reflected the level of deceit and, in the case of Smith and Warner, the failure to show leadership. It was a case of misconduct, he insisted, rather than ball-tampering per se. While Lehmann’s role will be reviewed as part of a wider look into the Australian team’s culture, the three players central to this particular incident – concluded to be a one-off by Iain Roy, the head of integrity who investigated it – must now look to rebuild their careers and the trust of the public. All three have the option to appeal against their suspensions and face a hearing in front of an independent commissioner. But given the outpouring of anger in Australia, one that has seen sponsors up in arms and even the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, get involved, they would face a struggle. As well as being forced to sit out all but club cricket during the next Australian summer, Smith and Warner have also lost £1.3m in earnings apiece after the BCCI barred them from taking up their respective deals at Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League this year. County cricket could be one avenue for them – Bancroft is already signed to play for Somerset – although the England and Wales Cricket Board was seeking clarification from its Australian counterpart as to whether the three would be eligible under the terms of their suspensions.