Australia vice-captain Steven Smith was the latest target of the ever-energetic and savage Edgbaston fans on Day 4 of the ongoing first Test match of Ashes 2023. Only a few days into the tour, other Australian players namely Travis Head and David Warner have already found themselves on the receiving end of the hostile English fans, who seem to have come quite well prepared to troll the visitors.
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No points for guessing, it were the fans from the ever-popular Eric Hollies stand who were waiting in bated breath for the arrival of the star Aussie batter near the boundary cushion in front of them. As fate would have it, Smith was sent to field by his skipper Pat Cummins at the very position in front of the stands.
The 34-year-old was then targeted by this section of fans with the infamous Sandpaper Gate reference. For those unaware, Smith was trolled on Day 3 as well when he appealed for a catch through to the wicket-keeper, despite there being a daylight between bat and ball. The fans booed him and the Australian team with the chant, “Same old Aussies…always cheating“.
Edgbaston Fans Troll Steve Smith With Sandpaper Gate Reference
It is as if the English fans are never going to spare Smith for having faced a one-year ban over charges of ball- tampering during the 2018 Cape Town Test against South Africa. The four-year old grave was dug out yet again on Monday as ruthless fans chanted, “We saw you cry on the telly…cry on the telly…cry on the telly.”
Fans were referring to the moment Smith had broken down in tears before the members of the press in Sydney, as he admitted guilty for the disgraceful act which involved Warner and Cameron Bancroft as well.
“I know I will regret this for the rest of my life. I am absolutely gutted. I’m sorry and I’m absolutely devastated,” Smith had remarked while taking entire responsibility for the scandal being the Australian captain back then.
As the chant reverberated across the stadium, Smith had no other option but to be a sport and shrug-off all such below-the-belt attacks which will perhaps be used against him till he plays the sport.
How Virat Kohli Took A Stand For Steve Smith Back In The Day
Further in the video, England pacer Ollie Robinson is also spotted smiling to the chant as he was readying himself to face the next delivery. His reaction was in complete contrast to how the then Indian captain Virat Kohli had dealt with the Indian fans trolling Smith during ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
During the India versus Australia clash at The Oval, a section of Indian fans had began boo Smith with “cheater, cheater” chant while Kohli was batting. Taking note of the same, the Indian captain came up with a heartfelt gesture for the star Aussie batter and expressed his disappointment over way he was being criticized.
He began waving his hands towards the particular stand and requested the spectators to refrain from such behavior. Kohli was later also awarded with ICC’s ‘2019 Spirit of Cricket Award’ for taking a stand for the tainted Aussie batter.
