Ball-tampering scandal: Will regret my action for the rest of my life, says David Warner

David Warner, like his teammates Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith apologised for his part in the ball-tampering scandal that has rocked Australian cricket in front of the media in Sydney on Saturday.

Warner said he had always taken pride in playing for the country and always wanted his nation to win and in that "I took a decision that I will regret for all my life."

Warner apologised to his wife Candice and his daughters and he got extremely emotional while talking about the pain he had caused them.

Warner refused to answer when asked if there was anyone involved in the scandal apart from the suspended three.

Warner said it was difficult to know he would not be playing for a year with his mates and said he will take advice "to make serious changes."

Here are the highlights of the press conference.

05.46 IST: Despite being repeatedly questioned over if there was anyone else involved in the ball-tampering scandal, Warner repeated that "I am here to take responsibility for my part in what happened on Day 3 in Cape Town."

05.44 IST: "We are mates and we have played together since childhood and it's really tough to know I won't be able to play with them and Steve and Cameron. We made an extremely regrettable decision."

05.43 IST: "I hope Cameron and Steve will have the same support as me because it is going to be an emotional time."

05.40 IST: On being asked if anyone else was involved, Warner said:

"I am here to take responsibility for my part and my actions and I will do anything to earn back the respect of the Australian public. I am extremely regrettable.

We made a bad decision for our country. It is going to take a long time to get back the respect of the Australian public. I wish I was a part of the fourth Test, which is going on in South Africa."

05.37 IST: Here is Warner's statement:

I hope in time I hope I can earn your respect again.

To my teammates, I apologise for my actions and take all responsibility for what happened on day 3 in Cape Town.

I apologise for my part in this and I'm sorry. I brought disrepute to the game. Australia is a fine cricket nation and deserves better from me.

I have always wanted to make my country proud and in that, I took a decision that I will regret for all my life.

It is hard to know what will come but for now, it is all about the well-being of my family and I hope I to be given the privilege to play for my country again but I am aware it might not happen again.

I will seek advice to make serious changes.

I want to apologise to my family, especially my wife and daughters [cries]. Your love means more than anything to me and I am nothing without you. I am sorry for putting you through this and I promise I won't put you in this position again.

I am deeply sorry for my actions. I failed in my responsibilities as the Australian vice-captain.

05.32 IST: Warner has arrived for the press conference.

05.25 IST: The media people are eagerly waiting for Warner to arrive for the press conference, which is about to start any moment.

Here is all that has happened with Warner in the past week:

The disgraced Australian star, who was allegedly the key conspirator in the scandal, was banned for a year by Cricket Australia for his role in the cheating row that erupted in Cape Town last weekend. He was also barred from playing IPL 2018 after he had stepped down as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft, the other cricketers involved in Sandpaper Gate were also sanctioned by CA. Smith was banned for a year while Bancroft was banned for nine months.

Coach Darren Lehmann also resigned from his post and said the fourth Test against South Africa at the Wanderers would be his last assignment.

Smith on Thursday broke down during a press conference at the Sydney airport and Bancroft issued an emotional apology at the WACA in Perth. Lehmann meanwhile, said he was affected after hearing both players speak and decided to quit.

Warner had also issued a statement on social media to admit that his mistakes had damaged cricket. He returned to Australia late on Thursday with wife Candice and their two daughters and promised to give a detailed explanation to the media.

"As you can understand, it has been a tough, emotional time for my wife and kids," Warner said at Sydney airport. "At the present time, you'll hear from me in a couple of days.

"At the moment, my priority is to get these kids in bed, and rest up and get my mind a bit clear so I can think, and talk in a couple of days."

Meanwhile, here are the key findings of Cricket Australia's investigations:

Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have been charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct, namely that their conduct:

(a) was contrary to the spirit of the game;

(b) was unbecoming of a representative or official;

(c) is or could be harmful to the interests of cricket; and/or

(d) did bring the game of cricket into disrepute.

In respect of the individual players concerned, Cricket Australia advises the following:

Steve Smith was charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct based on:

(a) knowledge of a potential plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball;

(b) failure to take steps to seek to prevent the development and implementation of that plan;

(c) directing that evidence of attempted tampering be concealed on the field of play;

(d) seeking to mislead Match Officials and others regarding Bancroft's attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball; and

(e) misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent and participants of the plan

David Warner was charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct based on:

(a) development of a plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball;

(b) instruction to a junior player to carry out a plan to take steps to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper;

(c) provision of advice to a junior player regarding how a ball could be artificially altered including demonstrating how it could be done;

(d) failure to take steps to seek to prevent the development and/or implementation of the plan;

(e) failure to report his knowledge of the plan at any time prior to or during the match;

(f) misleading Match Officials through the concealment of his knowledge of and involvement in the plan; and

(g) failure to voluntarily report his knowledge of the plan after the match

Cameron Bancroft was charged with a breach of Article 2.3.5 of the CA Code of Conduct based on:

(a) knowledge of the existence of, and being party to, the plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper;

(b) carrying out instructions to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball;

(c) seeking to conceal evidence of his attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball;

(d) seeking to mislead Match Officials and others regarding his attempts to artificially alter the condition of the ball; and

(e) misleading public comments regarding the nature, extent, implementation and participants of the plan