'Pretty self-explanatory' - Cameron Bancroft reckons bowlers were aware of ball tampering tactics in Cape Town Test

Australian cricket and the whole cricketing fraternity was shocked after Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft admitted in a press conference that they were trying to tamper the ball during the Cape Town Test in 2018. The repercussions of the incident were very strong with Cricket Australia banning Smith and David Warner for 12 months while Bancroft was handed over a nine-month ban.

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All three players served their suspension and have returned to playing cricket for Australia and at other levels but the incident is still hogging the limelight. Bancroft is currently in Durham to feature in County Cricket where the interviewer of The Guardian asked him if the bowlers and the team was aware about the ball tampering tactics.

While Bancroft didn't give any direct response but hinted that they were aware of it given that the tampering of the ball only helps bowlers. However, he also cleared that he has also learnt a lot from the incident and was accountable for his actions as well.

"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 . Had I had better awareness I would have made a much better decision," he said.

However, when stressed even further, the Australian cricketer said that it is self-explanatory. "Uh… yeah, look, I think, yeah, I think it's pretty probably self-explanatory," Bancroft added. While Smith and Warner have consistently played for Australia since their return, Bancroft has been fighting for his place in the side and was dropped midway through the Ashes 2019 citing poor form. He last played for his country in Lord's Test a couple of years ago.