Wednesday 28 March 2018 09:50, UK
Australia's admission to cheating in the third Test against South Africa reflects badly on the game of cricket as a whole, says England's Alastair Cook.
Cricket Australia has launched an investigation after captain Steve Smith and team-mate Cameron Bancroft sensationally admitted to ball-tampering charges.
Asked what he's made of the unedifying scenes coming out of Cape Town, Cook told Sky Sports: "Obviously it's clear as day what has happened; it's not right in the game of cricket and ultimately that responsibility lies with the captain who takes his team on the field.
"It's a very dangerous thing for me to comment on without inflaming the situation. Australia have come out and admitted they've cheated and ball-tampered so it's up to the ICC and Cricket Australia to deal with it.
"It just doesn't look good on the whole for the game of cricket."
Cook resigned as England Test captain in February 2017 after a record 59 matches as skipper - and while not condoning Smith's actions in any way - said the responsibility of captaincy can weigh heavily.
"To captain your country is the biggest honour in sport; there are high pressure situations and everyone is desperate to win," said the 33-year-old, who led England to Ashes victories in 2013 and 2015.
"We all hear about this 'line' that Australia talk about that they never go over so it is an interesting one but we're a long way away here [in Auckland] and we've obviously got to concentrate on our game here where ultimately we haven't played very well in the first two days.
"A bit of rain has obviously given us a chance to come out of this with a draw if we play some better cricket."
Live coverage of the third Test between New Zealand and England continues on Sky Sports Cricket with day four of the third Test between South Africa and Australia continuing on the same channel from 8.30am.
