Carlton Supporters Club

A caller on SEN about 30mins ago rang in with a story about Warner from a few years ago, I think before he played for Aus. I won't repeat the gory details but it showed the kind of attitude he had then and it was quite shocking. He was banned for his actions but when he was called up for national duties shortly afterwards the ban apparently was immediately lifted. Mmmm, bit of a problem there I think.

The ball tampering itself is not a big deal, it's not like it offers a clear benefit.

I see the current events as being more politically motivated, it's about the hypocrisy!

Even so there is no defense for Smith and Warner, but the penalties need to be proportional to du Plessis and Philander or CA will legally shoot itself in the foot!

btw., A while back the BCCI funded a university to look into the aerodynamics of a cricket ball. They spent a lot of money trying to find the formula that makes a ball swing and a bunch of very smart people drew a blank trying to establish a repeatable and reproducible regime!

If CA come out and whack Smith and Warner too excessively, relative to earlier cases which can be considered precedents, it'll end up in the CAS.

Some wealthy supporter will fund Smith and Warner to fight the charges, and then people on the CA side lose more than they already have.

CA will not want the penalty challenged, it will cost them too much. I'll be shocked if on top of someone like Lehman losing his job Smith or Warner are banned for life as some want.

Something will be worked out where a couple will be sacrificed to save the rest......Warner will retire from test cricket IMO and Lehman will fall on his sword.
Smith wont be captain again but his ability as a player will keep him in the team, Bancroft as the junior player and not being probably the sharpest tool in the shed should be spared but his place wasnt cemented anyway
and he will need to earn his way back in the team.
The biggie for me is would Michael Clarke be considered for the Ashes series as captain.......

CLARKE, BIG BIG NO. I'd prefer Kim Hughes! 

Perhaps Warnie will make a comeback and be captain?

England found mints worked very well on the ball in 2005...lol. Can really lacquer up the shiny side.

The classic vintage footage of Lillee wiping his finger across his brow then polishing the pill is no accident.

Starc needs a break anyways, looks exhausted and bowling pies.

He bowls pies when it gets tough, blames the runup, footholes etc etc...I'd play Richardson or Sayers and let him sulk and learn how to be proper teammate and stick together..

Hazlewood and Starc trying to extricate themselves from the mess by saying its was Smiths idea and they had nothing to do with it, one of them wants a meeting with CA and their name cleared. Problem is they are part of the leadership group and are the bowlers most likely to benefit from the ball being tampered with..I'm calling BS on the fact they had nothing to do with the decision making and wanting to leave Smith hung out to dry is pathetic.... tells you where the team are too in terms of sticking together, not sure what is worse ..cheating or abandoning your captain, VC and opening batsman.