OT Ashes 1st Test

[WanChaiMiller]

Jimmys injury was a huge loss and a big reason why we could not press home the advantage.

[frogmiller]

Steve Smith was magnificent, we need to find a way of getting him out.....easier said than done

I hate the man with a passion. One of the most skillful batsmen probably the world has ever seen but I can't stand liars or cheats and he is both those.

This is a sport for the Aussies where winning is more than the game itself. Having 3 cheats back from a ban in your national team can't be good for the sport.

I hope that his balls drop off and his house falls down! He's a **** of the highest order and that's before I get on about Warner!

[WanChaiMiller]

I hate the man with a passion. One of the most skillful batsmen probably the world has ever seen but I can't stand liars or cheats and he is both those.

This is a sport for the Aussies where winning is more than the game itself. Having 3 cheats back from a ban in your national team can't be good for the sport.

I hope that his balls drop off and his house falls down! He's a **** of the highest order and that's before I get on about Warner!

Ball tampering is a pretty minor offence. Up until the Warner Smith incident it carried a 1 match ban. Since the incident ICC have increased it to a 6 match ban.

When the Aussies got caught in Cape Town the ICC banned Smith and Warner from the next match and Bankroft got 3 penatly points on his licence. It was the outrage in Aus that caused the ACB to ban them for 1 year.

Agree they lied initially.

Ball tampering has been going on forever. In the 60s Trueman was known for using Brylcream to polish one side of the ball. Lip ice was the fashion in the 70s (Massy at Lords).

It was only in 80s when Imran and Safraz develop reverse swing that it was first considered cheating. There was the famous court case involving Botham and Lamb vs Imran.

[flourbasher]

Ball tampering is not the main issue here because as some have said it,s been going on for decades by a lot of different players.

Their biggest problem is that they cried on national television that subsequently got distributed to England. Big mistake and they know it.

"Cry in a minute
He's going to cry in a minute....."

[Paul Waring]

Those are fair points, WanChaiMiller. I also remember the Atherton "dirt in the pocket" episode which I think resulted in only a fine. I do though chuckle when I remember Warner's outrage at Du Plessis for ball tampering in a 2016 test when Warner said he hoped no Australian player would ever do such a thing. Sport is all about gaining an advantage and cheating is a fluid concept.

[Exiletyke]

If I recall, Smith appeared on Australian TV last year & admitted his guilt, accepted full respnsibility as team captain & hoped he would be forgiven & that he could make amends. Don't know what else he could have done He certainly made amends yesterday
Now compare his contrition to that of a large number of our politicians when caught out. Keith Vaz comes to mind

[flourbasher]

But surely he was only contrite because they got caught.
What they did involved a number of people and was clearly premeditated. Pressure was put on less senior players
What he said afterwards was to try and mitigate the wrath from the Australian public who considered it as a national scandal and brought shame on their country.
No sympathy at all for cheating sportsmen and women who are allowed to continue and make a lot of money after their misdemeanor.

That's why they do it. A relatively short ban and then the money starts to accumulate again.

If they were heavily fined and banned for life I don't think many of them would take the risk

[Exiletyke]

But surely he was only contrite because they got caught.
What they did involved a number of people and was clearly premeditated. Pressure was put on less senior players
What he said afterwards was to try and mitigate the wrath from the Australian public who considered it as a national scandal and brought shame on their country.
No sympathy at all for cheating sportsmen and women who are allowed to continue and make a lot of money after their misdemeanor.

That's why they do it. A relatively short ban and then the money starts to accumulate again.

If they were heavily fined and banned for life I don't think many of them would take the risk

How many examples of being caught but still no apology from countless examples
Keith Vaz
Michael Fallon expenses to name but two
the list is endless for no contrition examples even when caught red handed

[fromafar]

Settle down Frog, with such passion, you should be in Rotherham United defence, all sports have cheats and people that twists the rules, not to mention , a couple of players from a close by club, that fixed a game or two at football. in the sixties,. hopefully people can learn from there mistakes,.! have a good weekend,. "Up the Millers,."

[flourbasher]

I'm happy for Keith Vaz to be banned from all forms of cricket