Darren Lehmann is expected to announce his resignation as head coach of Australia in the next 24 hours, becoming the first casualty of the ball-tampering scandal.
Sources in Australia have told Telegraph Sport Lehmann is ready to stand down with immediate effect and his decision is partly why James Sutherland, the chief executive of Cricket Australia, suddenly announced on Monday that he is flying to South Africa.
Flip side of this ball tampering incident is that supposedly under threat Test Cricket is generating such passion and attention. With this much passion it wonโt die - its apathy that kills off sports.
I was so rocked on Saturday when 25-year-old batsman Cameron Bancroft was caught trying to change for state of the ball know day three after he rubbed a piece of yellow sticky tape with dirt stuck on it on the rough side of the ball in order to try and produce reverse swing. Though, I think it's unfair the coach has to go down with him.
Whether you agree with the severity of the punishment for Smith and Warner or not, Cricket Australia have done one thing for cricket. They have set the marker on ball tampering: it's no longer a naughty little offense
