Smith, Warner banned for year

London : Australia captain Steve Smith and vice-skipper David Warner have been banned for a year for ball-tampering.

Cameron Bancroft, who carried out the cheating in South Africa, was given a nine-month ban by Cricket Australia.

The three had already been sent home from Australia’s tour - before a fourth Test begins on Friday - amid widespread condemnation stretching beyond sport.

Australia’s prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had said the affair “bitterly disappointed the whole nation”.

Smith, 28, and Bancroft, 25, have also been suspended from captaining Australia for at least the next two years.

Warner, 31, will not be considered for “any team leadership positions in the future”, Cricket Australia said.

Cricket Australia’s investigation also confirmed Bancroft used sandpaper to damage the ball during the third Test against South Africa.

It found Smith and Bancroft had made “misleading public comments” when on Saturday they instead claimed it had actually been yellow tape.

Cricket Australia had already concluded that coach Darren Lehmann was not involved in the controversy and he will remain in his post.

The body’s chief executive James Sutherland said the three players were “sad, disappointed and remorseful”.

Smith, Warner and Bancroft are banned from international and Australian domestic cricket. They will also serve 100 hours of “voluntary service in community cricket” and can appeal against the suspension.