In practically every game of cricket players try to rough one side of the ball. When you let the dust settle and look at what has actually happened here, that is all these dumb arses tried to do. Yes it was a dumb and ill-conceived thing to do, against the rules and spirit of the game. However, I believe the media, the Australian public and Cricket Australia, driven by the media, have massively over reacted.
I think Warner's judgement was clouded with the rage he must have felt at the men who unforgivably slandered his wife, and being a bit of a hot head, conceived the plan and Smith allowed it to happen. DUMB!! And Bancroft, DUMBER!!!
The ICC following their experience with other national teams trying to do the same thing, gave Smith a ONE Match suspension.
Cricket Australia have only themselves to blame for losing lucrative contracts. They played politics with it and lost. If they had followed the ICC's line and said something like "We accept the ICC's finding and will do everything to ensure this does not happen again", Smith, Warner and Bancroft would have copped their ONE match suspensions and fines and Cricket Australia would not have lost their sponsors.
I hope these cricketers appeal and commonsense and calm heads prevail.
