1. What was Cameron Bancroft doing?
Bancroft used sticky yellow tape, which had debris from the pitch, while working on the ball in an illegal attempt to scuff it. To make matters worse, Bancroft attempted to hide the evidence when he realised umpires were suspicious. He stuffed the tape down his pants, instead showing umpires a piece of cloth in his pocket. Cameras captured it all and the match referee later charged him with ball tampering.
2. Why would he do that?
Reverse-swing has played a crucial role in the ongoing test series in South Africa. It is achieved by scuffing one side of the ball and can help fast bowlers produce unplayable deliveries. Both sides have achieved remarkably early reverse-swing in the first two tests, but attributed it to dry pitches and an abrasive centre-wicket block. Australia were desperate to make the old ball start hopping in Cape Town, where the home side had seized control of the crunch clash.
3. Whose idea was this?
