England’s Australian coach Trevor Bayliss says he is embarrassed by the ball tampering scandal that has shamed his home side on their Test tour of South Africa.
Bayliss, who coached England‘s 4-0 loss to the Aussies in the Ashes, echoed the thoughts of captain Joe Root and pace bowler Stuart Broad that the tourists had no reason to suspect any suspicious activities from the home team.
Bayliss had been a former mentor of Steve Smith during his NSW days and was shocked by the events in Cape Town this week.
The axed captain was banned by the ICC for the final test in Johannesburg and fined his match fee for the third match at Newlands after he and batsman Cameron Bancroft confessed to their ball tampering scheme.
Smith will be sent home along with vice-captain David Warner and Bancroft, Cricket Australia has announced. Tim Paine has been appointed as the new skipper of the side.
"I'm obviously disappointed and as an Australian I'm embarrassed," Bayliss said on the issue.
"Steve is a lovely young bloke who has made a terrible mistake, and I'm sure Cricket Australia will work out the course of action required.”
Darren Lehmann will remain as coach of the team after an investigation found he had no involvement in the illegal tactics employed by the Aussies.
Bayliss professes that some teams have been waiting to lay into the Australian team after their hard-nosed approach in recent times under Smith’s leadership.
"I think a lot of what they're copping at the moment comes from the way they have played their game," Bayliss added.
"It's almost like teams and people around the world have been waiting for them to stuff up, so they can lay the boot in.
"I don't think you can say when any culture has changed," he said. "It's one of (those) things that continually over a period of time builds and builds, and unfortunately on this occasion it's gone too far."
