Cape Town Test: Aussie skipper Steven Smith banned for one Test

Cape Town: The ball-tampering scandal in the Cape Town Test reached to another height after Australian skipper Steven Smith was banned for the following fourth Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg, confirmed the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday.

This is the maximum penalty for ball-tampering. Cameron Bancroft, who actually tampered the ball in the Newlands Test, was awarded three demerit points after he confessed to the Level 2 charge.

"The decision made by the leadership group of the Australian team to act in this way is clearly contrary to the spirit of the game, risks causing significant damage to the integrity of the match, the players and the sport itself and is therefore 'serious' in nature. As captain, Steve Smith must take full responsibility for the actions of his players and it is appropriate that he be suspended," ICC CEO David Richardson said.

Also Read: Ball-tampering row: RR likely to drop Steve Smith as skipper

"The game needs to have a hard look at itself. In recent weeks we have seen incidents of ugly sledging, send-offs, dissent against umpires' decisions, a walk-off, ball tampering and some ordinary off-field behaviour. The ICC needs to do more to prevent poor behaviour and better police the spirit of the game, defining more clearly what is expected of players and enforcing the regulations in a consistent fashion. In addition and most importantly Member countries need to show more accountability for their teams' conduct. Winning is important but not at the expense of the spirit of the game which is intrinsic and precious to the sport of Cricket. We have to raise the bar across all areas."

Also Read: The biggest ball-tampering incidents in the game of Cricket

Earlier in the day, after the intervention of Australian government, Steven Smith and David Warner stood down as the captain and vice captain of Australian Cricket team for remainder of the third Test taking full responsibility of the ball-tampering episode.