I feel I have let everyone down in Australia: Cameron Bancroft

Cameron Bancroft has apologised to everyone for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal which was exposed in Cape Town last week. He was banned by Cricket Australia (CA) for nine months along with the skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner who will stay away from cricket for 1 year. The trio has irked all the cricket fans around the world and is regretting their actions now. However, Bancroft cleared that he will work harder to earn his respect back but will regret the incident for the rest of his life.

The drama unfolded on the third day of the Cape Town Test when he was caught scuffing the ball with the yellow piece of tape, the action was preplanned. Captain Smith accepted the same later in the press conference and was also banned by the ICC for one Test match. However, CA was set to take stern actions on them following the outrage back home over their actions.

I lied and I’m very sorry

Cameron Bancroft apologised to everyone during his first press conference after reaching hometown in Perth and regretted his involvement in ball-tampering. “Yes, I lied. I lied about the sandpaper and I panicked. I panicked in that situation and I’m very sorry. I love the game of cricket and playing for my nation and my state, there is no greater pride for me. I am extremely disappointed and regret my actions. I am sorry to the people who have looked up to me around the world, especially the kids,” he told reporters.

“I will focus on my actions and my conduct going forward. Not a second has gone by where I haven’t wanted to turn back time. I will regret this for the rest of my life. I just want to show how sorry I am, and at the end of the day, they are my actions that I am accountable for, and they don’t reflect on my values and what I have grown up to be. It is something I am very ashamed of and so sorry for,” he added.

Bancroft, however, didn’t clear that if he will contest the sanctions levied upon him by the board and went on to say that he will discuss the matter with his manager. “At the moment, I have received the paperwork for my sanction. I respect the process that is going to come with that and I will work with my manager [Trent Ovens] and we’ll move forward with that,” the youngster continued.

The 25-year-old was also gutted that he had given up his spot to somebody else for free and believed that he will comeback stronger and harder. “I know it is going to be a difficult journey back, but the moment I step outside this room is the moment I take the step forward to earning that respect back. Through this whole experience and whirlwind has been obviously shown how important the game of cricket is to Australia and the public, and we are representations of that,” he said.

He was devastated after letting everyone down in his country and hoped that he will get to wear the baggy green again in the future. “For me, it has been a very big wake-up call for myself about what that means and how amazing an opportunity it is to wear the baggy green cap. I feel I have let everyone down in Australia and I am not proud of that, and I know it is going to take time to heal and to earn that respect back from everybody,” Bancroft concluded.

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