Smith, Warner step down from leadership roles for Newlands Test

What’s brewing?

In a massive development from Newlands, Australia’s skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner have stood down from their respective leadership roles for the remainder of the third Test in Cape Town, following the ball-tempering incident that dominated the proceedings of the third day of Newlands Test.

While Smith and Warner will take the field, wicketkeeper Tim Paine will act as skipper at Newlands. Commenting on the same Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said: “Following discussions with Steve Smith and David Warner they have agreed to stand down as Captain and Vice-Captain respectively for the remainder of this Test match.

CA chairman David Peever confirmed the board chose Paine, as interim captain.

“The Board of Cricket Australia has endorsed Tim Paine to step in as Acting Captain for the remainder of this Test,” Peever said.

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In case you don’t know…

Following ball-tempering allegations on opening batsman Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith made startling revelations in the post-match conference of the ‘leadership group’ being aware of Bancroft’s proceedings and that they had a discussion in the linch-interval about possibly using a foreign substance to alter the shape of the ball in a bid to make it conducive to reverse-swing. Following a massive furor, the Australian Prime Minister has called out CA to sack Smith and coach Lehmann with immediate effect.