Steve Smith, David Warner, Cameron Bancroft apologise- Ball tampering

Sydney/Johannesburg, March 29: The banned Australian trio of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft on Thursday issued apologies for their involvement in a ball tampering incident with the sacked captain taking full responsibility for it while head coach Darren Lehmann, cleared of any wrongdoing, surprisingly announced his resignation.

Smith, who along with his deputy Warner was banned for a year, broke down repeatedly during a press conference at the Sydney airport, where he admitted that the Cape Town ball tampering scandal was a failure of his leadership.

Stripped of the Australian captaincy for at least two years, he owned full responsibility for the whole scandal that broke out during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

"I've been privileged and honoured to represent my country. Cricket has been my life and I hope it can be again."

"I'm sorry and I'm absolutely devastated. I don't blame anyone. I'm the captain of the Australian team. It's on my watch and I take responsibility for what happened," he told the media on his arrival in Sydney from South Africa.