Former Australia vice-captain David Warner apologised in tears Saturday for his role in a ball-tampering scandal and said he would weigh up an appeal against his 12-month ban.

An emotional Warner said he realised he may never play for his country again. But he stonewalled questions about who was aware of the ball-tampering and whether it was the first such incident within the team.

Warner, 31, told a media conference in Sydney: “I can honestly say I have only wanted to bring glory to my country through playing cricket.

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“In striving to do so I have made the decision which has had the opposite effect and it’s one that I will regret for as long as I live.”

Captain Steve Smith and Warner were banned from international and domestic cricket for a year over the incident, while opening batsman Cameron Bancroft was suspended for nine months.

Coach Darren Lehmann also quit following one of the most damaging scandals to ever to hit Australian cricket.

Bancroft was caught on camera trying to use yellow sandpaper to alter the the ball in the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

But Warner was charged by Cricket Australia with developing the plot and telling Bancroft to carry it out.

When questioned about a possible appeal, Warner said: “That’s something that I will continue to sit down with my family and weigh up all my considerations before I make any decisions.”

Warner later made a series of tweets as well:

(With inputs from AFP)

Full text of Warner’s statement:-

First of all I’d like to thank you all for coming this morning. To the fans and the lovers of the game who have supported and inspired me on my journey as a cricketer, I want to sincerely apologise for betraying your trust in me. I have let you down badly. I hope in time I can find a way to repay you for all you’ve given me and possibly earn your respect again.

To my teammates and support staff, I apologise for my actions and I take full responsibility for my part in what happened on day three of the Newlands Test. To Cricket Australia, I apologise for my actions and the effect it has had on our game under your care and control. I want you to know that I fully support your review into the culture of the Australian cricket team. To South African players, administration and fans, I apologise unreservedly for my part in this and I am sorry. I brought the game into disrepute on your soil. South Africa is a fine cricketing nation and deserves better from its guests and deserves better from me.

To all Australians, whether you’re a cricket fan or not, I apologise for my actions. I’m sorry for the impact those actions have had on our country’s reputation. I can honestly say I have only ever wanted to bring glory to my country by playing cricket. In striving to do so, I have made a decision which has had an opposite effect and it’s one that I’ll regret for as long as I’ll live. I do realise that I’m responsible for my own actions and the consequences that that brings. It’s heartbreaking to know that I won’t be taking to the field with my teammates that I love and have let down. Right now it is hard to know what comes next but first and foremost, is the wellbeing of my family.

In the back of my mind, I suppose there is a tiny ray of hope that I may one day be given the privilege of playing for my country again but I’m resigned to the fact that that may never happen again. In the coming weeks and months, I’m going to look at how this has happened and who I am as a man. I will seek out advice and expertise to help me make serious changes. I want to apologise to my family. To my wife and daughters. Your love means more than anything to me, I know I would not be anything without you. I’m very sorry for putting you through this and I promise I’ll never put you through this again.

Before I take questions, I want to again say thankyou, I take full responsibility for my part in what happened and I am deeply sorry for the consequences of what I was involved in. I failed in my responsibilities as vice-captain of the Australian cricket team.

Warner’s media interaction:-

David, the cruel treatment of Candice earlier in the tour … how much did that affect your decision to cheat on that day?

It’s tough for me to talk about where my thought space was on that day, given the circumstances that happened in Durban. But I’m here to take full responsibility of my actions of the part that I played in, that happened on day three in Newlands, in Cape Town. I’m extremely sorry and I really, really regret that. It’s going to be a decision that sticks with me for the rest of my life.

You, Bancroft and Smith were involved. Can you hand on your heart say no other players or coaches knew about your plot?

I’m here today to accept my responsibility for my part, my involvement for what happened in Cape Town. It’s inexcusable. I’m deeply sorry. As I said, I’ll do everything I can to earn that respect back from the Australian public.

Did you orchestrate this scandal? Was it your idea?

As I said, I’m here to take full responsibility for the part that I played in this. It’s extremely regrettable, I’m very sorry. I really just want to move on from this.

David do you think you or the other players are perhaps surprised by how badly the public has taken this?

I’m not surprised at all. We let our country down. We made a bad decision. I played my part in that, and as I said it’s going to take a long time to earn that respect back from the Australian public. It’s really hard to sit here today knowing and seeing my friends, my family, that are playing in South Africa at the moment in this fourth Test, which I wish I was a part of.

Has your relationship been ruined with the Australian cricket team? It appears you were on your own when this crisis broke out.

The Australian cricket team are my family. I really regret what happened on that day three. As I said, I just really wish I could be there today on that field with them. That’s one thing I’m really going to miss this next 12 months.

Did you realise how serious the crime was at the time?

We know what the consequences are when you make horrible decisions like this. As I said, I’m extremely sorry for my part and my role that I played in this. And I really wish, and hope, that Steve and Cameron have the same support that I have with me, because it’s going to be a tough and emotional time these next 12 months.

Dave, are you considering retirement?

That’s something that I’ll continue to sit down with my family and weigh up all my considerations before I make any decisions.

Can you hand on heart say you’ve never done this before?

As I said before, I’m here to accept my responsibility for my part that I played in day three, Newlands, Cape Town Test.

What’s your relationship like with Steve, Cameron, Mitchell Starc? Do you think any damage can be repaired?

We’re mates. We’ve grown up with each other. We’ve played on the field for a long time with each other. It’s going to be really tough not being able to partake in the next 12 months, not just with the rest of the team but with Steve and Cameron, because we made a decision that was inexcusable and extremely regrettable.

Do you feel as though you’re being made a scapegoat? You’re holding back with some of your answers.

As I said before, I’m here to speak about myself, and take responsibility for the part I played in this. Thank you.