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Shark58: good one -- I would certainly make Paine captain for the next test and series. If he goes well, we can make it more permanent in the future.

Historically wicket keepers don't get given the job long term, so I think it is unlikely that Paine will captain beyond this test. My view is that George Bailey is the man for the job. This is a situation where you need someone with experience, authority and with a calm temperament and George fits the bill. I realise that on form he probably is not in the top batsmen in the country but these are extraordinary times and it was in the world series crisis 40 years ago when Bob Simpson came out of retirement to lead the young players. I think George could mentor Mitch Marsh who would be Vice captain.
Renshaw will slot into one of the openers spots. Shaun Marsh will probably move up as the opener with Hanscomb replacing him at number 5. Still need another batsman for the middle order if CA ban both Bancroft and Warner, maybe Head or Maxwell are packing their bags now.

to be honest I hope Warner gets a long suspension...he's a great batsman but a stain on the team with his aggressive carrying on both on field and off....karma I call it.

Apparently the other players have turned against Warner and he has been portrayed as the instigator of the ball tampering.
We will know the sanctions in the next few hours when James Sutherland holds a press conference in South Africa.

Will be interesting to see what penalty awaits Smith, Warner and opener Bancroft when they arrive home from South Africa. Apparently Lehmann was not involved in the incident. CA is considering significant sanctions against the 3 within 24 hours is the word.

Totally agree Mikeh....Bailey could be looked at from an integrity perspective...the next 12 months needs a calming and "nice guy" perspective....Skull O'Keefe came out saying boot the lot of them long term(Warner, Smith, Bancroft), get Bailey in and even Jake Doran to number three.....love how O'Keefe is right out there....LOL.

Interesting to hear Smith knew nothing about it...all Warner's doing and Smith felt obliged to implicate himself because he is the captain.....could answer why at the initial interview Smith passed on the explaination to Bancroft to voice......apparently Warner during the ashes boasted to the English about his taped up fingers and roughing up the ball.....the guy is a loose cannon and should be shown the door permanently.

Maxwell, Burns and Renshaw are the calvary apparently.....Renshaw and Burns to open....can't see Uzzie staying at 3.....perhaps open with Uzzie and tell him it's a T20 match....seems to make runs then...LOL.... but with Maxwell over can see Uzzie making way.....Burns Renshaw Lyon(!) Marsh Handscomb Maxwell Marsh Paine Cummins Starc Hazlewood .......

.....whatever happens or whoever gets the nod, I really hope the Aussies set themselves the target of drawing the series....what is done is done....the guilty players will get their just desserts......no excuses of fragile mental states...they are paid way too much for that.....if the cancer has been removed, let the healing begin....

I am hoping Bancroft isn’t made the scapegoat here in regards to the penalties that will be dished out by CA.

There is no way he was the one that came up with this & it would have been masterminded & Bancroft bullied into it by someone…no not the captain!

As Sonny Bill would have said to Davy "nice try"

South4theflag wrote: I am hoping Bancroft isn’t made the scapegoat here in regards to the penalties that will be dished out by CA.

There is no way he was the one that came up with this & it would have been masterminded & Bancroft bullied into it by someone…no not the captain!

Different ways on how this all came about are emerging, which is why interviews/investigations are entirely appropriate and necessary.
- did the leadership group know?
- who is the leadership group?
etc. etc
Maybe Smith was the ring leader, maybe Warner, who knows until there is a complete and proper investigation. The unfortunate thing for anyone completely innocent is that they are caught up in a fair and proper process, that includes Bancroft and being West Australian (here comes the abuse) does leave him excused.
If he was bullied then that will be part of what comes out, process is crucial here. Pat Cummins is about a year younger and Mitch Marsh about year older than Bancroft.

I am struggling to believe that the knowledge of this was restricted to 3 players and that the coach had no idea it was happening. The South African broadcasting network had their suspicions and thats why they instructed their cameramen to focus on the Australian fielders.
This appears like an exercise in damage control by Sutherland which has had the entirely opposite affect. Why make a public pronouncement when the investigation is incomplete?. Sutherland should be sacked by the CA board ASAP as he has been in charge through this and that pay dispute last year which nearly saw the players go on strike and has shown his complete incompetence in handling both issues