Twitter Reactions: Steve Smith steps down as Australian captain in the ongoing Test

The Australian cricket has been jolted severely by the recent reveals made in the ball tampering scandal. The players of the Australian side, including captain Steve Smith and the vice-captain David Warner, have been found guilty of being involved in the ‘sandpaper gate’. During the course of the ongoing third Test match against South Africa in Cape Town, the Aussies were found to have tampered the condition of the ball.

The scene came to the fore during the third day’s play in the match. Australian cricketer Cameron Bancroft was seen getting the ball thrown at him after every delivery bowled by the Australian bowlers. Soon, video grabs surfaced the media that clearly showed Bancroft using an external object to affect the condition of the ball. Later, it was ascertained that he used sandpaper on the ball.

He did so in order to wear away the condition of the ball to make it conducive to reverse swing. Later in the day, the Aussies were in the firing range of the media personnel in the press conference. There, Bancroft admitted to his offence. Also, Australian skipper Steve Smith admitted to his offence of being in the know how of the things and yet going forward with it.

Steve Smith had remarked that it was the leadership group of the team that had instructed Cameron Bancroft to use these tactics in the match. This has now called for widespread criticism of the Australian team and their captain as well. In fact, several government agencies have also called for the sacking of Smith as the Australian captain. The decision from the Cricket Australia remains to be seen.

For now, Steve Smith and his deputy, David Warner, have stepped down from their respective roles of captain and vice-captain for the remainder of the ongoing Test match. They made the announcements on the penultimate day of the Test match. Furthermore, Tim Paine has been named as the captain of the team for the remainder of this Test.

Here is how the fans have reacted to this move by Smith and Warner:

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