The Australian men’s national cricket team is currently caught up in an embarrassing cricket scandal.
Three players on the team are facing lengthy suspensions after being caught cheating in a match in South Africa.
Here are the basics of the incident:
The very basics of cricket
Similar to baseball, cricket is a sport in which a bowler throws a ball at a batsman who is attempting to make contact with the ball. Unlike baseball, each team uses 11 men when they are pitching to the opponent rather than nine. The sport is one of the most popular in the world and usually lasts an inning or two and a match could go on for up to five days. Scores can head into the hundreds.
The very basics of the Australia-South Africa test series
The two countries are squaring off in a four-match test series in locations across South Africa. The home side has a 2-1 lead with the fourth contest set to begin Friday in Johannesburg.
WATCH: “Devastated” former Australia cricket captain Steve Smith broke down in tears as he apologised for his part in the ball-tampering scandal.
The very basics of the plan
In the third match, the Aussies were getting pummeled and were having trouble getting any of the South African batsmen out.
During lunch, Australian captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner hatched a plan to tamper with the ball. Cameron Bancroft is in the vicinity and is drawn into the conversation. (The Aussies claim no other players were involved in the conversation.)
The trio decide to get some tape from a kit bag and are looking to get some dirt on it with the hopes of being able to scuff up the ball.
The very basics of how the plan went awry
Bancroft puts the tape in his pants and when the opportunity presents itself, he gets some dirt to put on the tape. He then uses it to scuff up the ball.
The plan goes awry when cameras capture him doing the dirty deed and replay it on screens throughout the stadium.
When the on-field umpires come to ask questions, he shoves the tape down the front of his pants. Bancroft shows the officials a sunglasses bag in his pocket as cover. His cover is quickly blown when the cameras also capture the cover-up.
The very basics of the consequences
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland was forced to fly to South Africa to clear up the situation.
All three players have been sent home for their actions, with Sutherland declaring that the Aussie’s governing body is “contemplating significant sanctions.”
“These sanctions will reflect the gravity with which we view what has occurred and the damage it has done to the standing of Australian cricket,” Sutherland said.
Sutherland promised that the final fate of Smith, Warner and Bancroft would be known in the next 24 hours.
*With files from the Associated Press
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