5 reasons why Steven Smith doesn't deserve a life ban

The biggest developing story in the world of cricket right now is one that we all became familiar with when Cameron Bancroft was caught ministering to the ball in highly suspicious circumstances.

Since then, the cricket world has gone on a roller-coaster ride with Steven Smith, the now-condemned, former Australia captain, admitting to tampering with the ball during the third Test of the ongoing abrasive series against South Africa.

There have been rapidly developing twists and turns with everyone from former cricketers to even the Aussie Prime Minister having their say. Now, the International Cricket Council has gone ahead and banned Smith for one match and fined 100 percent of his match fees. Most people think this is too mild a punishment for what is an incident of blatant cheating. Some have called for a life ban on the star batsman.

Here's a look at why that would be the wrong path to take.

#1 Ball tampering is probably as old as the game

The venerable Michael Atherton has also been caught ministering to the ball

This isn't something Steven Smith and the Australians came up with, you know. He may be in the eye of the storm because of that shocking confessions, but cricketers far and wide have practised and will practice tampering with the ball.

It is a sure-shot way of ensuring prodigious amounts of unpredictable swing (both reverse and sometimes traditional) and several high-profile names have indulged in the same. It is even harder to catch in non-televised matches and is a trick many bowlers resort to.

#2 Most cricketers have only escaped with a fine and/or a short suspension

Waqar Younis escaped the same charge with minimum punishment

The then England captain Michael Atherton missed any punishment for his infamous 'dirt in the ball moment' from the ICC, but the England Cricket Board did take the step of imposing a token fine.

The legendary Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis was one of the first cricketers caught tampering with the ball and the first to be fined and suspended for the same. Waqar was taken to task by match referee after he found him guilty of the offence in an ODI against South Africa.

Waqar lived to tell the tale and is considered one of the foremost exponents of reverse swing.

#3 Smith has already been punished enough

Steve Smith has lost both, captaincy and reputation

The backlash has been severe. Former legends like Jeff Thomson have called for his head. The Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has taken the unprecedented step of condemning the baggy greens, Adam Gilchrist has said that the Aussies are the joke of world sport now.

Smith has already lost his captaincy (of both the national team and Rajasthan Royals) and his reputation. He is in the process of being dealt a harsher punishment by Cricket Australia. He is also set to lose most of his endorsement deals and thus a significant portion of his livelihood. All for accepting that he cheated. Isn't this punishment enough?

#4 There is no provision for a life ban for ball tampering in ICC code of Conduct

Rahul Dravid was once caught rubbing a lozenge on the ball

When, arguably one of the greatest batsmen of Indian cricket and one of its most decent characters, Rahul Dravid was caught rubbing a lozenge on the ball, he was only handed a fine. Steven Smith has faced a harsher sanction of being banned for a match.

It is the perception of his crime, thanks to his presser, that has made him a condemned man. Going beyond the ICC provisions for the same will amount to an extra-judicial sentence and will not be fair when looked back in hindsight.

#5 It would be great to see him rebuild his career and reputation

Steven Smith was on his way to becoming a modern legend

Steven Smith has truly hit a nadir as a cricketer. His captaincy is gone, his career is on the line. To be honest, Smith's flawed but his passionate approach to cricket has been there for all to see from before. Who can forget his 'brain fade' moment in India?

In all this hullabaloo, one can quickly forget that he is one of the best batsmen in the world right now with an astonishing average of 61.37 in Tests. Before this calamity, he was on his way to becoming a modern legend.

It would be interesting to see how he repents for his sins and rebuilds himself as a cricketer and a batsman if given the chance. Steve Smith 2.0 might be a better, more perfect version of his condemned former avatar.