Michael Vaughan: 'Twelve-month ban for Australia's Steve Smith is too harsh'

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has claimed that the 12-month ban issued to Australia's Steve Smith is "too harsh".

The skipper has been punished by Cricket Australia for his role in the ball-tampering scandal that has rocked cricket.

Smith will serve a year-long suspension and will be unable to captain his nation for two years, while vice-captain David Warner has also been issued with a 12-month ban and will no longer be considered for future leadership roles due to his involvement in the incident.

Cameron Bancroft, who was seen hiding a piece of sandpaper down his trousers after using it on the ball during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town, has been hit with a nine-month suspension.

After the punishment was announced, Vaughan tweeted: "Steve Smith I think is a good guy who made a huge mistake ... He needed punishing but I think this is too harsh ... Bancroft who I don't know was led astray but deserved punishing but again too harshly IMO ... The other guy I really don't care about ..."

An internal investigation from Cricket Australia found that Warner came up with the ball-tampering plan and demonstrated to Bancroft how to carry it out.