Say no more.
I'll bite... but I will have a bit more to say.
The actions of the Australian cricket team in South Africa are indefensible, their attempts to alter the condition of the ball to gain an unfair advantage have quite rightly been labelled as nothing more than cheating.
At least the players involved have admitted their crime, taken full responsibility, shown genuine contrition & accepted without appeal, their very severe punishments unlike the hierarchy of the ACB who are ultimately responsible for allowing the development of this poisonous culture in the Australian test cricket team.
Pat, the cheetah logo that you suggest for Australia could have been applied to any number of teams in previous years, including England in 2006.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxiBX6D4mxQIf there is a silver lining, i think that the outrage caused in Australia & throughout the cricketing world by this blatant act of cheating will ensure that no player from any test playing nation will be attempting to tamper with the ball in the future.
At the same time, I do stand by what I said in an earlier post & that is that ball tampering, appealing for a catch that hasn't quite carried, appealing for a close run out when you know the batsman is safe, appealing for an LBW when you know that you pitched outside the line or that the ball is clearly going down leg side or appealing for a catch behind when you know damn well that the batsman has not nicked the ball.
These practices are rampant in grade, club & shield cricket where there is little or no camera coverage & less experienced umpires can be influenced by a raucous appeal as well as heckling from the crowd.
Is this cheating or just part of game, of course it is bloody cheating, if you know that someone is not out then you should not be appealing in an attempt to " fool " the umpire.
This needs to be addressed from the grassroots level & kids need to be taught that it is more important to play an honourable & fair game rather than the " win at all costs " attitude that seems to over ride everything these days.
Each of the major test playing nations have their icons & heroes from bygone eras & i think that all cricket fans love the way that the game used to be played.
It was the gentleman's game, the determination to win was always there but it was played with true sportsmanship, sure there was sledging but it was always light hearted & usually comical unlike the vitriolic & personal rubbish that the likes of Warner have been producing in recent years & it was common practise that even after the umpire had raised his finger & a batsman was walking of the field, the opposition captain, after talking to the fielder, would recall the batsman & explain to the umpire that the catch never carried.
It is my sincere hope that this incident which has been a huge embarrasement for all Australians, will be the catalyst that inspires all nations to revert to playing the game in the same spirit that our icons & heroes from years ago always did.