'Tell me this is a bad dream' - Aussie greats devastated by ball tampering scandal

Australia's cricketing greats have come down hard on captain Steve Smith, in the wake of the ongoing ball tampering scandal that's rocked the side currently on tour in South Africa.

On day three of the third Test match in Cape Town, Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera trying to alter the condition of the ball using a piece of yellow tape, before it was revealed that the instruction came down from captain, Steve Smith.

Smith's predecessor Michael Clarke lead the charge, tweeting in the wake of the controversy.

"WHAT THE ...... HAVE I JUST WOKEN UP TO. Please tell me this is a bad dream," Clarke tweeted.

Ex-Australian spinner and former teammate of Bancroft Brad Hogg also weighed in on Twitter:

"Team mate of mine, known him since he was 13. Disappointing. Out of character. Eagerly awaiting the fall out from this," he said.

Ex-Queensland and Test batsman Jimmy Maher didn't hold back in his verdict, saying that the incident was "a national day of shame" for the country "and for the entire cricket world, really."

The Sydney Morning Herald's front page said it all, stating that the scandal was "The worst Australian captaincy crisis since the underarm incident."

Former wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist - who is considered a bastion for the spirit of the game in Australia - told the BBC that the situation had brought shame on the current side.

"Stunned and shocked are two words that come to mind and then when you learn more about it I feel embarrassed and sad."

"It's not what should happen. It should not happen. That's the disappointing thing, it's not (a) spur-of-the moment decision. It's not an under-pressure decision where you make a decision and, 'It's okay I got it wrong because of a pressure moment'. It's pre-planned and premeditated. It's just not acceptable."

Smith has been handed a one-Test ban by the ICC, while further punishment is expected from Cricket Australia.