Adam Gilchrist raises questions over Smith's future with the team

There’s no denying the fact that the ball-tampering incident involving Cameron Bancroft and the Australian ‘leadership group’ has become the talk of the town in just hours after its telecast. The embarrassing moment has left the Australians as the ‘laughing stocks’ in world cricket, reckons former Australian Adam Gilchrist. The man who was renowned to play the game in true spirits of sportsmanship, admitted today that he had been left stunned, shocked and “really saddened” by overnight events in South Africa.

The former opening batsman believes the Australians have been quick to raise fingers against their rival nations in their bid to bend the rules of the sport in order to gain an unfair advantage. But this time around, the future for the Aussie captain lies in danger much due to his act that stands against the spirits of the game.

Gilchrist is in a state of shock

The 46-year old wasn’t reluctant to criticize the men in question as he reckons this as an act that won’t see many showing any further faith in the Australian team. As per Gilly, “Australian cricket now and the integrity of Australian cricket is the laughing stock of world sport.” He finds himself in a state of shock after coming to terms of the real situation, “I’m really sad, shocked, stunned – I’m not trying to over-dramatise it but (I’m) really emotional about this,” Gilchrist said today on Network Ten where he is part of the broadcast coverage of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

Talking about the future of Steve Smith as the skipper, Gilchrist wasn’t a convinced man as the man in question is likely to be axed from his duties for the national team. “I’m not sure he (Smith) can remain captain.” A thing that surprises Adam is the admission by Smith as whatever happened was much to everybody’s notice in the leadership group. “This clearly is against the laws of the game and we’ve just had our national captain and our national team admit that they sat down, premeditated and pre-planned a way to cheat, “he added.

Thought on the leadership group

“I think it’s a pretty tough position to hold after you’ve admitted to what you’ve admitted to, (to be able to) carry on with any faith from anyone watching. We’ll wait and see whether he’s told, or whether he stands aside. ”

Gilchrist was quick to respond to what did Smith meant when he mentioned about the involvement of leadership group. In his views, it is always the captain, vice-captain and the coaches who are in the mix of things to consult for a decision to be made. throwing some light on what could be the possible punishments in the reckoning, he said,  “Match bans or fines, they’re going to pale into insignificance if (Smith) loses the captaincy and if players get relieved of those leadership positions.“It might implicate (David) Warner as vice-captain, I don’t know.”