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Australian cricket plunged into crisis

Zion Dayal
Isaiah Smiler
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Steve Smith  Flickr

A cheating scandal has rocked the cricket world and plunged Australian cricket into crisis.

This follows skipper Steve Smith being party to ball tampering by Cameron Bancroft.

Bancroft was caught on camera altering the conditions of the ball with the yellow sticky tape which was hidden down his trousers. 

Captain Steve Smith says it was a big mistake and takes responsibility for what happened.

"Obviously today was a big mistake on my behalf and on the leadership groups behalf as well, but I take responsibility as the captain and I need to take control of the ship," Smith said at a press conference following the days play. 

The ICC has given Smith a one-match suspension and will lose his match fee while Bancroft was fined 75% of his match fee.

Skipper Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner stood down as captain during the third test while wicket-keeper Tim Paine took over as captain. 

South Africa won the third test overnight winning by 322 runs, and lead the series 2-1.

Both sides will meet again on Friday for the fourth in Johannesburg.