I think Steve Smith misjudged the whole affair with the press conference. I believe he was attempting to provide some protection for Bancroft and not throw him under the bus. I suspect he felt it was a relatively minor misdemeanour that would disappear pretty quickly - Think Mike Atherton way back in the 1990's.
While finding the affair amusing I can't help thinking the reactions are totally over the top. I find it hard to believe that Richie Benaud was not a dab hand at picking (raising) the seam on a cricket ball. (Yes I know it is not using a foreign object but the outcome us the same.)
This is less about the actual "crime" and more about a world of cricket getting its own back on a side that is considered arrogant. The Prime Minister wading in is highly amusing - always good to stay in the spotlight and pick up a few brownie points/votes by championing Australian sportsmanship. Let's hope John Howard isn't wheeled out to bowl a couple of balls.....
(I'm overseas with limited news coverage so has Bill Shorten had his say yet?)
I have some sympathy for Steve Smith, less for David Warner and perhaps a little more for Bancroft - but "that" press conference over the Bairstow head butt tainted him.
How Lehmann is still in his role astonishes me. I would have thought anyone with any integrity would have resigned when his captain and vice captain are implicated and banned. It is ludicrous to suggest that Lehmann is free of blame. That said I suspect it is not the end and we will here more on this.
When I think back to my playing days picking the seam was the way to go and was routine at semi professional level and undoubtedly at county level in the UK. The old pro's would bring it with them into minor counties cricket.