The biggest unanswered question being asked by so many people is why? 

Why would our most prominent sporting team, do such a thing and let millions of loyal followers around the country and the globe down?

What were the leaders of the team thinking? Why did they throw one of our more junior players to the wolves?

How did they expect to get away with such a foolish action in front of such a well-televised game covered by cameras on every angle? Does this represent how much of a bubble our players live in ?

These are all questions that have been the topic of conversation around water coolers all over our proud nation. 

Even those who have no idea on cricket have asked why? Why would our team cheat? 

It’s hard enough to explain the concept of what ball tampering may do to those who play the game, let alone to those who never watch a game but have seen this scandalous actions splashed all over the tabloids this week.

Our Australian Cricket team has represented the very fabric of who and what we are as a nation. 

A team that has never given up, a team that in the past has defied the odds when, like lambs to the slaughter, have survived the might of the West Indies pace attack in the 80’s. 

A team that has at times been ripped apart by the rebel tours and World Series cricket but still managed to uphold the values of what we are about as a nation. 

These were our darkest days as a cricket nation but over time we rose from the ashes and became the supreme superpower of world cricket.

In a moment of madness last weekend those responsible have tarnished cricket and our proud Aussie battler image in this country forever. 

Yes, in time the wounds will heel, but the scars are there forever. 

For those old enough to remember the underarm incident against New Zealand in 1981, the wounds of anger and embarrassment run deep. 

The current situation has, for many, reopened those wounds.

There is no doubt ball tampering has been around since the invention of the game, but it’s very disturbing to hear one of our leading cricketers saying that at one stage, everyone who has played the game at all levels has done it.

Clearly this indicates major issues in the culture of our top flight cricketers. Such a comment is so disrespectful to those at all levels of cricket.

There is no doubt, the punishments must be harsh, but at the same time the crimes must be kept in perspective. 

Whilst we as a nation have been let down by the actions of a few, the real issue is how to manage those who have felt the need to take such desperate actions in wanting to win. 

How to manage the juniors who in recent days have seen their heroes fall from grace. 

It’s hard to see the coach, captain and vice captain surviving in their current roles however a lifetime ban from playing in our national team again for such mistakes would seem excessive. Everyone makes mistakes. 

Possibly the best thing those involved in the scandal could do is explain to the millions of junior cricketers is that ball tampering and cheating in sport or life is not right.

As a proud sporting nation, we will survive and unfortunately we would be naïve to think an event like this would never happen again in the future. 

It is better to try to win and lose with honour and integrity than to win by deceit and lift a trophy knowing you have done so with such shallow values.

Who knows what our national cricket side will look like in the coming weeks. 

For those who love the game of cricket, for those who love sport and for those who love our proud nation, we cannot desert our national team. 

Forgiveness isn’t easy, but together at all levels of cricket and sport we can encourage our players, especially those so young and easily influenced that cheating isn’t right.