*****Disgraced Australia cricketer Steve Smith issues a tearful apology for his part in the ball-tampering scandal after his return to Sydney on March 29. Photo: AFP File*****
Banned Australia captain Steve Smith was not aware of key elements of Australia's ball tampering plot until he saw the incident on the Newlands big screen, according to Cricket Australia's investigation.
While David Warner refused today to divulge his exact involvement in the ball tampering crisis that has rocked Australian cricket, details are starting to emerge from the events of last Saturday at Newlands.
"Fairfax Media can reveal investigators were told Smith did not know how the plan would be carried out until after Bancroft had been exposed on the big screen. It's believed they found Smith had expressed his dislike of the plan but did not attempt to stop it," reports Sydney Morning Herrald today.
It's understood CA's investigation found that the sandpaper was used twice on the ball, which umpires believed had not been sufficiently altered to warrant replacement, and had come from a kit bag though it's unclear who supplied it for use. Sandpaper is commonly used by players to smooth their bats.
The revelation about Smith is consistent with CA's charge sheet, which alleged he had "knowledge of a potential plan" to tamper with the ball and did not "take steps to seek to prevent the development and implementation of that plan".