Ponting and Slater slam banned pair for 'disappointing' revelations

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has taken a swipe at Cameron Bancroft, accusing the banned opener of trying to repair his image amid renewed debate about whether David Warner can be reintegrated into the national side.

Bancroft revisited the Cape Town ball tampering scandal in an interview broadcast during Fox Sports’ Boxing Day coverage, suggesting he “didn’t know any better” when asked by Warner to interfere with the ball at Newlands.

The broadcaster also aired a separate interview with Steve Smith, who spoke of the “dark space” he was in after the tampering furore.

Bancroft’s nine-month ban expires on Saturday while Warner, who is yet to speak in depth about the events in Cape Town, and Smith have another three months to serve.

All three are likely to be in Australia’s plans for next year’s Ashes but it remains to be seen if bridges have been burned, with former opener Michael Slater suggesting the relationship between Warner and Bancroft is untenable.

Ponting said he was stunned by the timing of Bancroft’s interview which threatened to overshadow the biggest day on Australia’s cricketing calendar.

“I was disappointed with a few things and I don’t think he had to say some of the things he had to say,” Ponting said on the Seven Network.

“Even the way he presented himself in that interview … he’s trying to rebuild his brand and that sort of thing, and I think some of the things he’s had to say have actually done more damage to his brand than what had happened before.”

Bancroft said in the interview with Adam Gilchrist that he “just wanted to fit in and feel valued”.

A CA investigation found that Warner was the architect of the illegal ploy, and that nobody outside Warner, Smith and Bancroft knew of the one-off plan to alter the ball with sandpaper.

Smith declined to address the incident in detail but shed further light on the role former Cricket Australia executives James Sutherland and Pat Howard played in establishing a toxic culture of winning without counting the costs.

Seven Network commentator Slater accused Smith and Bancroft of attempting to “bury” Warner, adding it would be difficult for the divisive star to return to the team.

“There is a strategy behind Steve Smith and Bancroft, and Dave Warner’s off the radar at the moment,” Slater said.

“In terms of a respectful comment on Dave Warner, there’s been none of that. So to me, it is untenable, they’ve buried him very quickly.”

Former Australian star Dean Jones also took aim at the banned pair, saying Bancroft and Smith should ‘just be quiet’.

Bancroft lifts lid on how ball-tampering plot began

Cameron Bancroft all but confirmed David Warner as the mastermind behind the ball-tampering plot, claiming he did what the batsman said because he “wanted to fit in”.

The scars resulting from the Cape Town cheating scandal have been scratched during one of the most momentous days on the Australian cricket calendar, with Cameron Bancroft revealing how desperate he was to “fit in and feel valued”.

Bancroft, speaking in depth for the first time since copping a nine-month suspension for his role in the ball-tampering furore, suggested he “didn’t know any better” when asked by David Warner to tamper with the ball at Newlands.

The same information was contained in Cricket Australia’s formal investigation of the sandpaper saga but Bancroft is yet to revisit the incident in such detail.

“Dave (Warner) suggested to me to carry the action out on the ball given the situation we were in the game,” Bancroft said in an interview that will be aired during Fox Sports’ Boxing Day coverage.

“I didn’t know any better because I just wanted to fit in and feel valued really. As simple as that.

‘”The decision was based around my values, what I valued at the time and I valued fitting in … you hope that fitting in earns you respect and with that, I guess, there came a pretty big cost for the mistake.”

The opener added he is “not a victim” because he had a choice.

The batsman often wonders what would have happened if he refused to be part of the illegal ploy to alter the ball in Cape Town.

“I would have gone to bed and I would have felt like I had let everybody down,” he said.

“Like I had let the team down. I would have left like I had hurt our chances to win the game of cricket.”

Bancroft’s comments highlight the challenge awaiting national coach Justin Langer and Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts as they mull how best to reintegrate the Cape Town trio and rebuild relationships strained by the saga.

Warner and Smith could both return within days of their suspensions ending, during Australia’s ODI series against Pakistan in March-April.

Roberts insisted he wasn’t disappointed with Bancroft’s interview going to air on day one of the third Test between Australia and India.

“The events of Cape Town were investigated and dealt with some nine months ago now, so there’s no new news there,” Roberts told reporters.

“It’ll be important that the players make a commitment to the new culture of Australia’s men’s team.

“Commit to making Australians proud in everything they do, on and off the field.

“I have confidence that the spirit of Steve, David and Cameron is really consistent with that.”

Roberts also shouldered arms when asked about Smith’s contentious commercial for Vodafone.

“That’s Steve’s prerogative,” he said.

“All three players have had a profound positive impact on a number of people during their suspension.

“Steve … has given hope to teenagers who had lost hope.”

With AAP