Former captain Michael Clarke said he wishes the ball-tampering scandal engulfing the current Australia side "is a bad dream", as former cricketers reacted by slamming the players involved.
Batsman Cameron Bancroft and skipper Steve Smith admitted to ball-tampering after the third day of the third Test against South Africa on Saturday, launching cricket into possibly its greatest-ever crisis.
"WHAT THE ........ HAVE I JUST WOKEN UP TO. Please tell me this is a bad dream," tweeted Clarke, who preceded Smith as Australia captain.
Smith admitted that the "leadership group knew about it", saying they had hatched the plan during the lunch break to "get an advantage".
Former England captain Nasser Hussain did not mince his words, telling Sky Sports News: "This was a pre-meditated attempt by the Australian team to cheat."
"You've got to own up. You've been caught, you've got to own up and say what was it you were hiding. You can't have that in the game."
Injured South African fast bowler Dale Steyn agreed, replying to Pietersen: "Bud you know nothing in professional sport is done without the consent of your captain and coach... Tough times ahead."
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