Batsman Cameron Bancroft has confirmed that teammate David Warner encouraged him to tamper with the ball during Australia’s Test series against South Africa earlier this year.

Bancroft, Warner and former captain Steven Smith are currently serving bans for the infringement, which happened during the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town.

‘Dave suggested to me to carry the action out on the ball given the situation we were in in the game, and I didn’t know any better,’ Bancroft told Fox Sports.

‘I didn’t know any better because I just wanted to fit in and feel valued, really – as simple as that. The decision was based around my values, what I valued at the time and I valued fitting in.

‘You hope that fitting in earns you respect and with that, I guess, there came a pretty big cost for the mistake. I would have gone to bed and I would have felt like I had let everybody down.

‘I would have felt like I had let the team down. I would have felt like I had hurt our chances to win the game of cricket.

‘I take no other responsibility but the responsibility I have on myself and my own actions because I am not a victim. I had a choice and I made a massive mistake and that is what is in my control.’

Smith and Warner were suspended for 12 months – and Bancroft nine. The latter will likely make a return to competitive cricket for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League before the end of the year. Warner and Smith will be available for the 2019 World Cup.

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