Twitter bashes Australia following Cameron Bancroft’s ball-tampering act

The third Test between South Africa and Australia is currently underway. The series has been a heated one thus far. David Warner’s brawl with Quinton de Kock hogged the headlines during the first Test. Thereafter, Nathan Lyon dropped the ball on AB de Villiers, which was received with criticisms. The second Test was also a witness to some severe altercation.

Kagiso Rabada got himself tangled in a controversy when he barged into Steve Smith following which he was banned for the remainder of the Test series. However, the ban was reversed and he was allowed to play with a fine of 25 percent of his match-fees along with one demerit point. Nevertheless, the altercations didn’t end there and have been carried forward to the third Test.

The shambolic act by Bancroft

Warner was greeted with a harsh send-off by a fan who was reportedly from the Members’ Stand. However, the biggest controversy sparked during the post-lunch session of the third day’s play. Ball-tampering is considered as a significant crime because of which several cricketers have faced the wrath of suspension and other punishments.

Cameron Bancroft was involved in one such incident. During the game, he was suspected to have used a sandpaper to tamper the leather. However, to his dismay, the camera was quick to spot the act. Darren Lehmann, the Australian head coach spotted the same and sent a message to Peter Handscomb through a walkie-talkie.

Handscomb walked into the field as a substitute and told him to hide the object. Thereafter, Bancroft put the sandpaper inside his pants, which was captured as well. The umpires asked him and he pulled something else out. Thereafter there has been several comments from eminent personalities surrounding the matter. People on the social media have bashed the Aussies for their shameful act. Going forward, it will be interesting to find the steps the ICC takes once he is found guilty by the match referee.

Here are the reactions on Twitter