An Australian cricketer who lives in Rotorua says the actions of the Australian national side are disheartening.
Australia has been left embarrassed and ashamed after its cricket captain Steve Smith confessed to hatching a plan with senior players to cheat South Africa by tampering with the ball in the third test.
Smith and Cameron Bancroft, the fielder chosen to carry out the tampering, admitted to cheating after Bancroft was caught on television using a piece of sticky tape to rub dirt into the ball, then trying to hide the tape down his trousers when umpires suspected something was up.
Stephen Nicholls, who plays Baywide premier cricket for Rotorua-based side Central Indians, moved here from Australia almost two years ago, but "absolutely" still considers himself an Australian. He was as shocked as anyone by the cheating scandal.
"It's pretty ordinary viewing to be honest, being labelled a cheat is probably the worst thing for an Aussie, I would've thought. Especially when the Aussie captain is doing it, not good at all.
