Dean Jones has broken ranks with other former Australian cricketers, saying some of the suggested punishments are ‘over the top’ and that ball scratching is a ‘widespread practice’.

The now head coach of Islamabad United told Neil Mitchell just the shame of the incident will haunt Steve Smith for his entire career.

“A year? I think that’s a bit over the top really, the fact that he’s going to lose the captaincy, the stain of it, it’s going to be like a tattoo on his face that he’s not going to be able to remove,” Jones said.

“I’d maybe not send him to IPL, that’ll cost him $2 million.”

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Jones also said ball tampering is rampant across cricket worldwide.

“There’s lots of different forms of cheating,” Jones said.

“What’s the difference between a batsman nicking one behind and not walking?

“The approaches made by bookmakers, scratching the ball, you have to be a man to stand up to the guys, if something is going to happen to you, it’s not if but when it’ll happen and are you man enough to say no?”