Sydney: Steve Smith started crying as he reflected on the effect his involvement in a ball-tampering plot had on his parents, and he apologised for the pain he's brought onto them and to the Australian public.

In an emotional news conference shortly after touching down in Sydney following his 12-month ban from the Australian cricket team, Smith took responsibility for the scandal that has rocked the sport in Australia.

"I just want to say I'm sorry for the pain that I've brought to Australia and the fans and the public," he said. "It's devastating and I'm truly sorry."

Smith and Cameron Bancroft fronted news conferences on opposite sides of Australia on Thursday, while the third player involved in the controversial ball-tampering scandal in South Africa — David Warner — used social media to issue an apology while still in the air.

Smith, wearing a formal coat and drawing deep breaths as he spoke, addressed the fans and the children of Australia would wanted to know why he'd cheated.

"Firstly. I'm deeply sorry. I love the game of cricket. I love kids wanting to play the great game of cricket that I love," he said. "Any time you're thinking of making a questionable decision. Think about who you're affecting."

"You're affecting your parents. To see the way my old man has been ...," Smith, stopping briefly to cry, continued. "... and my mum. It hurts."

Smith said as captain of the Australian team, "I take full responsibility."

"I made a serious error of judgment and I know and understand the consequences," he said. "It was a failure of my leadership. I will do everything I can to make up for my mistake and the damage it has caused. If any good can come from this, then I hope I can be a force for change.

"I will regret this for the rest of my life, I am absolutely gutted, I hope in time I can earn back respect and forgiveness."

Nearly 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) west, an emotional Bancroft apologized at Perth, Western Australia and said he will forever regret his role in the episode that resulted in 12-month bans for team leaders Smith and Warner and a nine-month ban for him.

Warner was scheduled to arrive back in Sydney late Thursday night, but was not planning to speak to the media.

Bancroft was the first of three suspended Australian cricketers to face the media after arriving home from South Africa. He walked into a news conference at the WACA ground, saying he was "sorry for those who looked up to me ... I have let many people down.

"Not a second has gone by when I wish I could turn back time. It is something I will regret for the rest of my life. All I can do in the short term is to ask for forgiveness."

Bancroft has only played eight tests since replacing Matt Renshaw in the Australian lineup. Now Renshaw has been recalled to replace him.

"The thing that breaks my heart is that I have given up my spot in the team to somebody else," he said, holding back tears. "People know I worked so hard to get to this point in my career and to have given up that chance for free is devastating."

A Cricket Australia investigator found that Warner instructed Bancroft how to carry out the tampering with a piece of sandpaper during a break in play on the third day of the third cricket test in Cape Town.

Bancroft initially told a media conference after the third day last Saturday that he used adhesive tape and dirt to attempt to alter the shape of the ball. It was later proved to be sandpaper that Bancroft had used.

"I lied about the sandpaper," Bancroft said. "I panicked in that situation. I'm embarrassed by that. I have never ever been involved in tampering with the ball and it clearly compromises my values and what I stand for as a player and as a person."

Warner, who has lost two sponsors already, said posted a statement on Twitter and Instagram to say he is on his way back to Australia from South Africa and added: "You will hear from me in a few days."

"Mistakes have been made which have damaged cricket. I apologize for my part and take responsibility for it," he said. "I understand the distress this has caused the sport and its fans."

Smith and Warner were banned from playing for Australia, or any high-level cricket in Australia, for a year. They've also been barred by Indian authorities from the lucrative IPL.

Smith lost the captaincy and won't be eligible to regain it for two years, Cricket Australia said. Warner will never again be considered for a leadership role in an Australian team.

Sporting goods company ASICS scrapped sponsorship deals Warner and Bancroft. Electronics company LG on Wednesday said it would not renew its soon-to-expire deal with Warner.

Cereal company Sanitarium on Thursday said it was ending its relationship with Smith.

Reports in the Australia media estimate the suspensions could cost Smith and Warner 5 million Australian dollars (US$3.8 million) each in lost earnings and endorsements.

The Australia Cricketers' Association has foreshadowed potential appeals by the banned players.

"There are a number of glaring and clear anomalies in the process to date which causes the ACA to query the severity and proportionality of the proposed sanctions," the ACA said in a statement.

The ACA said the grading and sanctions for the players were well above what the ICC had implemented, and the bans were not reasonable on a world scale.