Steve Smith’s video of scuffing up Rishabh Pant’s guard during drinks break in the 1st session of Day 5 of the Sydney Test has gone viral on social media. And, netizens were quick to label him a cheater again. Also, this has again brought up the Sandpapergate scandal in the discussion, in which Steve Smith, who was the then captain of Australia, was banned for tampering with the ball against South Africa in 2018.
Although it has been more than two years since that incident, the dark past of Steve Smith has never left him. And, the dots are being connected to the current Sydney Test to easily accuse him of cheating again.
Steve Smith is obviously under a lot of attention by the world media: Darren Murphy
However, Smith has not done anything illegal but questions have raised on his sportsmanship.
Sports Integrity expert with Cricket Australia Darren Murphy has warned the world-class batsman to be careful of his on-field actions. He stated that whether Smith has done cheating or not but he will always be under the scanner considering he has gone through a dark past.
“With Steve Smith he’s obviously under a lot of attention by the world media and I just think you’ve got to be really careful with how your actions and behaviour are perceived – and he’s under the microscope more than others,” Core Integrity chief executive Darren Murphy told 7NEWS.com.au.
“Whether his actions constitute cheating, it’s not for me to say. (But) once you transgress in a sport, whether it’s for off-field behaviour issue or elsewhere, you’ve got to expect you’re going to be under the microscope.”
Stay away from attacking someone for their race: Darren Murphy
Besides the accusations on Steve Smith, Australia skipper Tim Paine’s onfield behaviour from Day 5 of the Test was also under the scanner. Paine had a lot of chatter and eventual exchange with India’s Ravichandran Ashwin.
Murphy believes that Paine did not cross a line in his sledging the Indian off-spinner.
“I might be a bit contrarian with my view here but I think the sledging thing has been a bit overplayed if I’m honest. Trash talking and sledging is a common thing in any sport at most levels and I personally don’t think there’s an issue with a bit of trash talk but I think you’ve got to make sure it stays within the bounds.
“Stay away from attacking someone for their race, religion, gender, sexuality and those kind of things and don’t make it too personal, then I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a bit of competitive trash talking,” he added.
Meanwhile, India and Australia will play the last and fourth Test match in The Gabba, Brisbane, commencing from January 15.
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