The many questions that remain in the Cricket Australia ball-tampering scandal

Cameron Bancroft of Australia talks to the umpire on the third day of the third cricket test against South Africa. Photo / AP

Cricket Australia's chief executive James Sutherland delivered some answers in his press conference in Johannesburg today but there are still plenty of questions remaining in the ball-tampering scandal.

As we await the sanctions to be handed down in the next 24 hours, Sutherland stated that the investigation found that only three players were involved – captain Steve Smith, vice captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

Despite the fact Smith hinted otherwise at the press conference following day three of the third test when he initially admitted to cheating by tampering with the ball.

"The leadership group knew about it," Smith admitted.

"We spoke about it at lunch and ah, I'm not proud of what's happened.

Along with Smith and Warner, the Australian Cricket leadership group also includes bowlers Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood.

So either Smith mis-spoke in the day three press conference; considers only himself and Warner as the leadership group or in subsequent interviews as part of the investigation has changed his story.

If you're planning on tampering with a ball, wouldn't you want the bowlers involved, since they are going to use the ball? Either Smith has changed his story or he never got the bowlers involved and is therefore a really bad cheat.

The other thing Sutherland made it clear was that coach Darren Lehmann knew nothing.

But here's what we've seen from TV footage. Cameras capture Lehmann on a walkie-talkie appearing to talk to 12th man Peter Handscomb. Handscomb then runs on the field and talks to Bancroft. Bancroft then puts the tape, which he used to tamper the ball with, down his pants.

Maybe Lehmann was giving Handscomb other orders to deliver directly to the most junior guy on the field. Maybe Lehmann wanted Bancroft standing two metres more to the left in the field. Maybe Bancroft was already going to hide the evidence, even though he didn't know he'd been captured tampering. Maybe the first Lehmann knew of the ball-tampering was through the TV coverage, just like the rest of the viewers.

That's what we're meant to believe?

Either way Lehmann surely can't escape punishment for what has gone on. This has transpired under his leadership at the tail end of an ugly tour in South Africa. The home side and fans have played their part as well but the way the Australian players have been encouraged to sledge opponents, it probably comes as no surprise that they also felt they could break the rules after pushing them for so long.