Steve Smith faces media after cricket cheating ban, highlights: Sobbing ex-captain says he is devastated

Get highlights of Steve Smith’s arrival press conference at Sydney airport on Thursday. Steve Smith was in tears as he accepted full responsibility for the ball-tampering scandal, saying he was devastated by his “big mistake"

 

Tainted Australia cricketer Steve Smith started crying as he reflected on the effect his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal had on his parents, and he apologized for the pain he’s brought onto them and to the Australian public. In an emotional news conference shortly after touching down in Sydney following his 12-month ban from the Australian cricket team, Smith took responsibility for the scandal that has rocked the sport in Australia. Smith was stripped from his role as captain and was banned from all international and domestic cricket for a year by Cricket Australia. Get highlights of Smith’s interaction with the media.

The explosive left handered identified by Cricket Australia as the mastermind behind the ball-tampering controversy, has been banned for 12 months too and will never be able to captain the national side.

“I am currently on my way back to Sydney,” Warner posted in a message to “cricket fans in Australia and all over the world” on Instagram.

“Mistakes have been made which have damaged cricket. I apologise for my part and take responsibility for it. I understand the distress this has caused the sport and its fans. “It’s a stain on the game we all love and I have loved since I was a boy.”

Warner was identified as the instigator of the tampering in the findings of the Cricket Australia investigation, instructing junior batsman Cameron Bancroft how to scuff up one half of the ball with sandpaper during the third test against South Africa. Bancroft was banned for nine months for his part.