Disgraced Australian cricketer David Warner apologises for planning ball-tampering scandal after receiving ban

Australia head coach Darren Lehmann expressed concern for the mental state of Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft after they were all banned for cheating

David Warner has apologised for panning the Australia cheat scandal by getting Cameron Bancroft to ball-tamper (PA)

David Warner has issued an apology for planning Australia’s ball-tampering scandal, with the opening batsman banned for a year after he was revealed as the brains behind Cameron Bancroft’s decision to cheat against South Africa last weekend.

In a damning statement released by Cricket Australia on Wednesday, Warner was accused of being the orchestrator of the ball-tampering scandal, having initially planned the incident ahead of the third day of the third Test in Cape Town last Saturday. Warner then discussed the plan with 25-year-old Bancroft, who as one of the more junior players in the side naively took on the responsibility of being the one who cheated on the field of play.

Bancroft used a piece of sandpaper – not sticky tape covered in dirt as he first claimed – to alter the condition of the ball with the aim of generating artificial reverse swing, only to be caught in the act by television cameras.

Former Australia captain Steve Smith, who stood down in the wake of the scandal, was also consulted about the plan to cheat. The ICC’s No 1 ranked Test batsman has also been banned for a year for his role in the plan to shameful incident, while Bancroft has been suspended for nine months. Smith and Warner have also been booted out of this year’s Indian Premier League, and Warner posted a statement on Twitter on Thursday to apologise for his actions that have disgraced the Australian game.

"Mistakes have been made which have damaged cricket,” Warner said. "I apologise for my part and take responsibility for it.

"I understand the distress this has caused the sport and its fans. It's a stain on the game we all love and I have loved since I was a boy."

“I need to take a deep breath and spend time with my family, friends and trusted advisers. You will hear from me in a few days.”

All three players were sent home from the tour of South Africa ahead of Friday’s fourth Test against the Proteas, with Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland announcing the bans on Wednesday morning.

However, head coach Darren Lehmann reiterated on Thursday evening that he will not be resigning and had no knowledge of the incident until he saw it on the big screen like everyone else did at Newlands, and while he admitted that it was a sad day for Australian cricket, he did express concern for the mental state of his three exiled players.

"The players have made a grave mistake but they are not bad people. There is a human side to this," Lehmann said in a press conference.

"I hope people will give them a second chance. I worry about the three guys mentally."

Darren Lehmann expressed concern for the mental state of the three banned players (PA)

He added: "We know we have let so many people down. We are truly sorry.

"There is a need for us to change the way we play. We need to work to bring the respect back from the fans."