Australian cricket captain Smith banned as Australia’s day of shame ends in humiliation, by Colin Bryden.

Australian cricket’s day of shame ended in a crushing 322-run rout at the hands of South Africa on Sunday and with captain Steve Smith banned for masterminding the ball-tampering scandal which has rocked cricket. …

It was a fittingly dismal end to the match for Australia after Smith, who has refused to quit but is facing a growing clamour to be sacked, had admitted hatching the plot to tamper with the ball during Saturday’s action.

The 28-year-old Smith was subsequently banned for one match by the ICC and fined 100 percent of his match fee, just hours after he and vice-captain David Warner had stood down from their positions for the remainder of the match. …

However, Cameron Bancroft, the 25-year-old opening batsman who was caught red-handed using yellow tape to alter the condition of the ball before hiding it in his underwear, escaped a suspension. …

Smith

Australia’s admission of cheating brought a firestorm of anger down upon them.

“We all woke up this morning shocked and bitterly disappointed by the news from South Africa,” said Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. …

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who has himself twice been sanctioned for ball-related offences, gave Smith qualified support for coming clean. …

Former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist told Australian broadcaster Channel Ten Sunday … “Australian cricket now — and the integrity of Australian cricket — is the laughing-stock of the world.”