Cameron Bancroft admits he lied about ‘sticky tape’ claim as disgraced Australia batsman confirms he used sandpaper

Australia batsman apologises for claiming that he used sticky tape covered in dirt after Cricket Australia reveal he actually used sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball

Cameron Bancroft has admitted that he lied in his post-ball-tampering press conference by claiming he used sticky tape covered in dirt to try and alter the condition of the ball in the third Test against South Africa, with Cricket Australia revealing that the young batsman actually took sandpaper with him out onto the pitch.

The 25-year-old was banned for nine months by Cricket Australia on Wednesday after he admitted to cheating last Saturday during day three of the third Test in Cape Town. Bancroft was caught by television cameras rubbing sandpaper on the rough side of the ball in an effort to try and artificially produce reverse swing for the bowlers, with both he and captain Steve Smith appearing at a press conference immediately after play had ended to explain their actions.

However, Bancroft initially claimed that the object – which he tried to hide down the front of his trousers after seeing that he had been caught – was a piece of yellow sticky tape that he covered in dirt granules. This was disputed on Wednesday by Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland, who insisted that the object was in fact a strip of sandpaper, and after arriving back in Perth following his dismissal from the Australian camp, Bancroft confessed.

“I lied. I lied about the sandpaper,” Bancroft said in a press conference. “I panicked in that situation and I’m very sorry. I feel like I've let everyone down in Australia.”

Both Smith and his vice-captain, David Warner, have been hit with one year bans for their role in the scandal, with all three players not allowed to compete in international and state cricket. Furthermore, Smith and Warner have been chucked out of the Indian Premier League this season, and Bancroft is unlikely to be allowed to join up with Somerset for the upcoming county cricket season as was planned.

They are allowed to play Australia club cricket, which has been encouraged by Cricket Australia, and have also been ordered to carry out community service within the game.

Bancroft admitted that he lied about using sticky tape when it was actually sandpaper (Getty)

For Bancroft, the biggest regret he has is that he has thrown away his place in the national side after winning just eight Test caps, and he admitted that his actions have been “a real embarrassment”.

"People know that I've worked so hard to get this opportunity in my career and I've given someone else an opportunity for free. I'm going to work so hard to get back this dream I've had since I was a kid of playing for Australia,” he added.

"I have never ever been involved in tampering with the ball and it completely compromises my values and what I stand for as a player and a person.

"For Australian cricket it's not acceptable.

"That's also a big learning curve for me that I had the opportunity to take control of my own values and my own actions and I didn't - and that's a real embarrassment for me. I'm sorry for what's entailed since then."

Bancroft’s comments came shortly after Warner issued a statement on Twitter to apologise for his actions, in which he admitted that the scandal has been a “stain on the game”. Smith, who has been removed as Australian captain, is due to give a press conference later on Wednesday morning.