Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland says the three players sent home were the only ones involved in tampering with the ball on day three of the third Test at Newlands.

Coach Darren Lehmann was seen speaking on a walkie talkie to, presumably 12th man Peter Handscomb after visuals of Cameron Bancroft were shown on the screen, which led to speculation that the former Aussie Test player was somehow involved in the plot.

Captain Steve Smith, who has since been sent home and given a hefty ban along with Bancroft and David Warner, told media after the day’s play that Lehmann was not in on the act, which has since been reiterated by Sutherland.

According to Sutherland, Lehmann said something along the lines of ‘what in the hell is going on?’

‘He [Lehmann] sent a message to say “what in the hell is going on?”. He didn’t use “hell”, he used another word. But “what in the hell is going on?”

‘That was through the investigation found to be the fact. I want to make that point very clearly that Darren made those comments.

‘[Integrity manager] Iain [Roy] was certainly satisfied that Darren wasn’t involved and didn’t know anything of the play,’ said Sutherland.