Apart from banning the trio for a limited period ranging from nine-month to a year, Warner was permanently banned from ever assuming a leadership role while Smith's, the then captain across formats, was for the duration of two years. Steve Smith's Leadership Ban Due to Role in Ball-Tampering Scandal Ends
“Yeah, look, all I wanted to do was to be responsible and accountable for my own actions and part. Yeah, obviously what I did benefits bowlers and the awareness around that, probably, is self-explanatory. I guess one thing I learnt through the journey and being responsible is that’s where the buck stops [with Bancroft himself]. Had I had better awareness I would have made a much better decision.”
I ask the question again. So some of the bowlers did know?
Bancroft’s hesitation is even longer. “Uh … yeah, look, I think, yeah, I
think, yeah, I think it’s pretty probably self-explanatory.”
As he settles into a new season at Durham, the Australian batsman reflects on how his nine-month suspension for using sandpaper on the ball during a Test match changed his views on life and cricket