5 important lessons to learn from Australia’s Sandpaper Gate

The #sandpapergate controversy involving 3 star-studded Australian cricketers has delivered a big blow to the game of cricket. The Gentleman’s Game of Cricket can be very unforgiving when it comes to incidents that are unsportsmanlike. After Trevor Chappell’s underarm bowling incident in 1981, to deny the Kiwis a win on the last ball of the match, the Sandpaper Gate is the only episode which brought so much disgrace to Cricket Australia and to the game of cricket. Trevor Chappell, who lived with his demons for more than 37 years is now at peace as he believes the Sandpaper Gate will remain fresh in the minds of people and put little cover to his most disgraceful cricketing moment of 1981.

After a lot of backlash from fans and losing a few sponsors, Cricket Australia was left with no choice but impose bans on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for their alleged involvement in the ball tampering episode (with a sandpaper) on the third day of the 3rd test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town.

If are not aware of the ‘Sandpaper Gate Controversy,’ this article will shed some light that led to the nemesis of Cricket Australia and ‘5 Important Life Lessons’ that every aspiring young leader should learn.

#Lesson 1: As a Leader, Keep your Work Ethic in Place

During the course of the 3rd Test match between Australia and South Africa, David Warner, the then vice-captain of the side hatched a plan to tamper the cricket ball with a sandpaper.

He chose a newbie Test batsman Cameron Bancroft for the task and also kept his captain Steve Smith in the loop. When Bancroft was caught in the camera, he tried to hide the sandpaper inside his trousers, but the fear on his face narrated the whole story. When questioned, Bancroft readily admitted of using a sandpaper to tamper the condition of the ball.

When Bancroft confessed the involvement of the leadership team, all hell broke loose. Steve Smith was expected to lead by example, but as a captain of the side, he failed to keep the work ethic in place. First, he gave a nod to Warner to execute his evil plans, second; a junior teammate like Bancroft who is barely nine Tests old was chosen as a scapegoat to essay the plan and last but not the least, Smith made a serious error in judgment thinking if caught in the act, the ever invincible Australian side can easily away with it. Ball tampering is just considered as a Level 2 offence in the ICC's dictionary – any player can easily get away by paying a lion share of the match fee along with a one-match ban.

#Lesson 2: When you’re Wrong, Don’t Boast your Credentials

Cameron Bancroft presided the press conference ahead of his captain and made the whole situation a lot messier. Ideally, Steve Smith should have faced the initial music, extended a heartfelt apology and taken responsibility of the whole mess.

He was apologetic, but not to the core. Smith commented, “I take responsibility as the captain. I need to take control of the ship. Today was a big mistake on my behalf and on the leadership group behalf’s as well.”

When asked about his plans to captain the Australian side in the future, Smith confidently said, “I still think I'm the right person for the job." Cricket Australia lost it at this point of time. The board immediately issued a circular stating that a team of Integrity Officers will be flown to South Africa to have a detailed investigation into the matter.

A good leader is expected to safeguard his teammates. If only Smith had asked media to keep Bancroft out of this fiasco, he could have earned some respect. This angered the fans and left Cricket Australia with no choice but to take some tough decisions in order to safeguard the larger interest of the Australian people.

#Lesson 3: The Higher you Climb, the Harder you Fall

The team of Integrity Officers and some key members of Cricket Australia slapped one year life ban on Warner and Smith. Bancroft, on the other hand, was handed over a 9-month ban. There’s more to it. Warner, even after making a comeback to the side will never be considered for a leadership role, while Smith and Bancroft can only be considered a year after making their comeback to the Australian side.

In Australia, the captain of the national cricket team is considered as the second most powerful person after the Prime Minister. The Aussies put a lot of weight behind their cricket captain. In the midst of this turmoil, the general public of Australia who had earlier chosen Steve Smith as the ‘Australian of the Year’ in January 2018 were not ready to forgive him.

Steve Smith and David Warner even in the wildest of their dreams must have never thought of bringing so much disrepute to their country and put their glorious cricketing careers on the line. Probably, they failed to realize that being the batting heavyweights of the side doesn’t make you indispensable by any chance, especially when your countrymen are not by your side.

#Lesson 4: Fallen Heroes are Seldom Given a Pat

Before the start of the fourth Test, all 3 players were flown back to Australia. They broke down during the course of the press conference. Such outburst of emotions is never a good sight. As a result, we could see a number of prominent cricketers took to Twitter to extend moral support to Steve Smith & company, but the hard decision was already taken by Cricket Australia after losing one of its major sponsors.

In the aftermath of the emotional press conferences, a number of heart-breaking news stories got published around these players. Warner’s wife Candice lost her 3rd baby in a miscarriage due to mental stress. Steve Smith's father dumped his son's cricketing kit in the garage; probably to restore his son's mental sanity.

With this kind of news reports, a lot of general Australian public may have sympathized the 3 players, but forgiving them clearly meant branding Australia as a country that encourages cheating. Right from the era of Allan Border, Australians have played a very aggressive brand of cricket, which they term it as ‘Win-at-all-costs.'

For the current generation of cricketers in the Australian camp, it had been a part of their cultural upbringing. The only difference is that it backfired this time and two of their greatest cricketing stars became fallen heroes overnight.

#Lesson 5: Evolve when Life Teaches you Some Hard Lessons

While imposing the ban, Cricket Australia had clearly mentioned that all 3 players can challenge the sanctions imposed on them within a period of 15 days. When the time came, none of the players challenged these sanctions. Moreover, Steve Smith in particular made a very strong statement saying that these sanctions have been imposed by Cricket Australia to send a strong message and he would do anything to put this episode completely behind him. A wave of sympathy grew around these players after their honest confessions before the media. The ban also demands some form of community service to be undertaken by these players which can rebuild their reputation and also cleanse their public image. Bancroft, if likely to make a comeback to the national side will be the first one to complete his ban by December 2018. Warner somehow feels that his career as an international Australian cricketer is almost over. Smith is still hoping to make a comeback.

While the ban prevents these players from playing domestic cricket, it will be interesting to see the merit of their selection if they ever happen to make a comeback. It’s important for these players to keep practising and remain at the peak of their game. With Cricket Australia’s stringent selection parameters, the only thing that can warrant their selection to the side will be their FORM.

Cricket lovers around the world want to see these players and also believe this is not the end of the road for the 2 dashing Australians - Warner & Smith. After showing ample amount of humility towards Cricket Australia and people around the globe, Warner, Smith and even Bancroft for that matter have showed healthy signs of being evolved human beings. It’s very important for the trio to stay spirited and raise their game to the next level.

When selectors sit down to reinstate them into the team, their performances should speak larger than words. The sweet sound of their cricketing shots should serve a testimony of their true caliber and not a shallow incident of ball tampering which is better forgotten in some lost pages of history.