The embattled trio of Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will be sent home in disgrace tomorrow as Cricket Australia came down heavily on their errant captain, his deputy and young opener for orchestrating a ball tampering conspiracy against South Africa, sullying the image of a cricket loving nation.
However, chief coach Darren Lehmann has been given a clean chit for the time being, as Cricket Australia concluded its preliminary investigations today.
Tim Paine will captain Australia in the final Test match with reinforcements in middle-order batsman Glenn Maxwell along with openers Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw scheduled to arrive tomorrow.
"All three players (Smith, Warner, Bancroft) that have been reported will leave tomorrow. Renshaw, Maxwell and Burns will arrive in South Africa in the next 24 hours," CA chief executive James Sutherland told a packed media conference here this evening.
"Time Paine has been officially appointed captain of the Test team," he added.
Sutherland informed that apart from the trio, no other player in the group had any prior knowledge about the wrongdoing.
"Contrary to inaccurate reports, Darren has not resigned. He had no prior knowledge," confirmed Sutherland.
Questioned whether Lehmann offered to resign, Sutherland replied: "As far as I am aware no he has not, at least not to me."
Sutherland said that he was angry but maintained that it was "an isolated incident of significant concern."
"I share the disappointment of the fans. We have had a board meeting today, Cricket Australia share these same feelings. I want to apologise to all Australians that this happened, particularly to all the kids that love cricket and idolise the players."
"I would not underestimate the damage this does to the game. What we are about as an organisation is cricket. If this has damaged the ability of cricket then it's a sorry state and we must do everything we can to repair it."