Australia vs South Africa: Timeline of ball tampering incident

Australia’s Steve Smith was fined 100 per cent of his match fees and was banned for one match by the ICC.   | Photo Credit: Reuters

Facing the cameras, Smith admitted the side’s leadership group had planned to tamper with the ball.

Here is a timeline of Saturday’s ball tampering incident:

LUNCH: South Africa go to lunch with a lead of more than 100 and the loss of a single wicket.

Australia’s leadership group, including Steve Smith and other senior players, hatch a plan to tamper with the ball to gain reverse swing. Cameron Bancroft is chosen to carry out the task.

TAMPERING: Bancroft uses yellow sticky tape and grit from the pitch to work on the ball while attempting to shine it.

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CAMERA: Host broadcasters repeatedly show close-up footage of Bancroft rubbing the ball on the big screen at Newlands.

Footage also suggests Australia head coach Darren Lehmann saw the images and subsequently sent substitute Peter Handscomb on to the field to alert Bancroft.

LEHMANN: The head coach is seen talking on a two-way radio while Handscomb is out on the field with a similar device speaking to Bancroft.

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TAPE: Television images show Bancroft, after being alerted, shoving the tape clumsily down the front of his trousers to keep it out of the gaze of the umpires.

Bancroft later admitted he was nervous and panicked when he realised that cameras in the stadium had caught him in the act.

UMPIRES: The on-field officials confront Bancroft who produces a black sunglass bag from his pockets and the umpires then allow play to continue.

 

INTERVIEWS: Australia opt out of the post-match broadcast interviews with Smith and Bancroft arriving late for the news conference.

Facing the cameras, Smith admitted the side’s leadership group had planned to tamper with the ball. Bancroft said he was charged by the ICC with a Level 2 offence for attempting to alter the condition of the ball.