Hence Smith's immediate and grovelling apology, yeah got set up written all over it.

I've always liked Smith, even if he can be a bit of a brat at times, but this is unforgiveable especially when the team has NEVER been cited for it in tha past. I think he was right when he says it'll never happen again under his leadership. What a stupid stupid boy.

Yes. Australia is very shocked, bemused, and grieving over this. We pride ourselves on playing the game hard and fair and leave the ball tampering to England, SA and Pakistan. Now you can say "welcome to our world"

We are now in the same tragic group as those mentioned above. Very very shameful.

Smith needs to resign.

I've never been cited for pissing in public, but I've done it. Plus I don't go round condemning people that've been caught either.

Deflecting it by saying everyone else is at it is precisely my reason for saying it wasn't an excuse in an earlier post. This goes up to coach level and you know it, the holier than thou image is/was a sham. Kind of makes you lot worse really.

Isn't it funny how its the English to pounce all over this given their history

Atherton pocket dirt
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/1511763.stm

The mint / ball tampering during the 2005 Ashes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/7579005.stm

The Anderson Broad cheating of 2010.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/6943182/Michael-Vaughan-Englands-James-Anderson-lucky-to-escape-ban-for-ball-tampering.html

Given Michael Vaughan's dismal record of being part of mint-gate, he has no right in his tweets to say what he does, and given you support England and your record is the most shameful of all, nor do you.

I don't know of a single Australian supporter who believes Smith should remain as captain given the information we know. It's shameful and has no place in an Australian cricket team. The only saving grace, and it's a small saving grace at that, is that our record is cleaner than yours.

Might be time for you to disappear before you are reminded of your record every time you try a dig.

Might be time for you to shush for a while and contemplate the fact that all you thought to be true about the Aussie team, was bollocks. Never claimed the England were whiter than white, but you claimed Australia were, that's a pretty humungous difference. Bit like a high ranking politician preaching family values and then getting one of his staffers pregnant.

Anyone who thinks it's the deed itself which has caused the uproar (such as yourself) is dilluded. The cricket world held Australia right up there in the play hard play fair stakes, but as it turns out you're the worst of the lot. Enjoy wearing your new crown Bozo, most disappointing team in world cricket. Thanks for taking the spotlight off of England

Underarm bowling clip at the ready hahaha

This

Australia have been at it for years but now they've been caught red-handed

So who's in the 'leadership group'? Warner definitely. Starc? Hazlewood? Lyon?

Smith is going to get the boot and as they are part of this, err, 'leadership group' none of those other individuals can realistically take over. So who gets the gig? Marsh?

Lehmann may not have been part of the ball tampering decision but he was part of the attempted cover-up. So what happens to him? Langer would make a good national coach

What a cluster-f**k

Proof? Yeah thought not.

Isn't it funny again, we won't tolerate cheating, and we will make sure Smith loses the captaincy.

On the other hand, Du Plessis gets done twice for ball tampering, South Africans applaude it and make him captain.

Just shows the quality of the 2 countries.

You'd have tolerated it if it wasn't on television

Du Plessis got done by the ICC and currently has demerit points hanging over him. He denied, and still denies, the charge. Smith admitted to premeditated ball-tampering. He and his, err, 'leadership group' discussed it beforehand and went through with it. His words. Big, big difference

Interestingly, ball tampering is not considered a serious offence by the ICC - hence the one match bans (not even that sometimes, just 100% match fee). The public and press, rightly or wrongly, see it differently. In this case, Australia is turning against their cricket team. When the Prime Minister is calling for the captain's head, you know it's in a different league and all bets are off. There's the real issue right there champ

Australia 'quality'? Yes, they have some 'quality' batsmen and bowlers, but that's it. Everything else about them is the antithesis of quality. Attitudes, sledging, actions, the frowns, primadonnaness - all distinctly un-quality. Australia are a combination of modern Manchester United and spoilt bastard from Viz - the most hated team in world cricket

Yes

Indeed.

I think a few more, i.e. the leadership team, will be given marching orders.

According to Cricinfo, Smith and Warner have stood down as captain and vice-captain

I wasn't expecting that

I hope that SA use all this cluster-f**king to their advantage and smash the living daylights out of Australia

Just watching live play now, it can only go one way i.e.for S.A. to win this one.

They still have to win the next test or draw, for a first S.A. series victory against Australia since re-admission,amazingly, even though S.A. have beaten Australia in Oz a few times.

Interesting to watch...