Just one day after being caught ball tampering with sand paper, the Aussies have been once again caught trying to rough up the ball, this time with a Makita 300W 125mm Orbital Sander.
Suspicion among the officials began when umpire Nigel Llong discovered a 100m long extension cord running from Australia’s change rooms out to the centre of the pitch, and that was just the first of many signs that something fishy was going on.
The suspicions were all but confirmed when another umpire, Richard Illingworth, witnessed Steve Smith put on a pair of earmuffs before a loud power tool-like sound came from his area, something that reportedly isn’t all that common on a cricket field.
The final straw was when Mitchell Starc entered the bowling attack, and instead of handing the umpire his hat, he handed him a respirator.
It was at this moment that the game was paused, and after extensive review of the footage it was clear that the Aussies had been going to town on the ball with an orbital sander.
Australia’s captain Steve Smith fronted the media for the second day in a row to talk about the controversy.
“We are incredibly sorry for trying to bring the game into disrepute the way we did, twice,” he began.
“It’s certainly not on and it won’t happen again, again under my leadership, I can promise you that.”
It’s not yet clear why Australia thought it would be a good idea to try tamper with the ball twice in two days, however there are many questions that have been left unanswered.
More to come.