South Africa vs Australia, 3rd Test Australia Cameron Bancroft charged for ball tampering, Steve Smith admits senior players had hatched plan Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft could face tampering claims after being spoken to by umpires about an object in his pocket during Saturday’ s play in the third Test against South Africa. Television footage appeared to show Bancroft take an object out of his pocket while fielding on the third day of the Test at Newlands. He was then seen tucking the object down the front of his trousers before he spoke to on-field umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth. Shane Warne, the Australian spin bowling great, said on Twitter he was “very disappointed” by the pictures and called on Australia captain Steve Smith to clear up the “mess” in the post-play press conference. Cameron Bancroft admitted that he has been charged by umpires of altering the conditions of the ball using illegal means during Day 3 of the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. “We just had discussions with the match officials. I’ve been charged with attempting to change the condition of the ball,” said Bancroft in a press conference after Day 3. Bancroft said that he had used a “Yell Once I was sighted on the big screens I panicked quite a lot,” he said, “That resulted in me shoving it down my trousers.” Bancroft said that the tape is part of their kit and that he tried to collect some granules from the rough part of the pitch on the sticky part of the tape and then rub the ball with that side, thereby affecting the ball. Australian captain steve smith who was sitting with Bancroft during the presser, admitted that the “leadership group” of the team knew about it. “We spoke about it at Lunch and I’m not proud of it. It’s not within the spirit of the game, my integrity or the team’s integrity, the leadership group’s integrity has all come to question and rightly so. It’s not on and it certainly won’t happen again I can promise you that.” Smith refused to mention the specific names of the individuals apart from himself who knew about it but he said that the coaches weren’t involved. “It was only the players,” he said. ow tape” which was caught on camera and the visuals of him using the tape went viral as the day progressed Aiden Markram and AB de Villiers batted South Africa into a strong position, leaving South Africa at 238 for five in their second innings when bad light ended play, an overall lead of 294. The series is tied at one match apiece. read this also