Darren Lehmann Condemns England Supporters for Taunts Targeting Steve Smith
Steve Smith has played 38 matches against England and scored 3,436 runs.
English supporters should be better compared to the taunts they aim at Australia batter Smith, says former coach Darren Lehmann.
Steve Smith, 36 years old, has been a frequent focus of chants and boos from English supporters in the wake of his role in the 2018 ball-tampering controversy.
He was sacked as skipper and banned for a full year while Darren Lehmann, who was found not guilty of any offense, quit as head coach following the incident.
"The taunts you receive is constant," Darren Lehmann said. "It's astonishing."
"He is playing daily. It would be tougher for him."
"Over in England they just refuse to forget. It's as if they have ever committed an error in their lives."
"It's mainly the ones that consume excess alcohol and carry on like idiots."
Background of the Ball-Tampering Incident
In a Test against the Proteas, Steve Smith admitted the Australian "captain's group" formulated a strategy to tamper with the cricket ball.
Ex- opener David Warner instructed batsman Cameron Bancroft how to employ abrasive material to rough up the ball, and he was then caught doing so by TV cameras in the middle of the match. Both men were also banned along with Steve Smith.
Aftermath and Continued Reaction
Smith returned to cricket after the ball-altering scandal in the 2019's Ashes series Test at Edgbaston Stadium and has been taunted consistently since.
English supporters also center jeers on his emotional news conference in 2018.
"We made the wrong thing, admit it and move on," Darren Lehmann stated.
"One strives to advance the best you can. One faces recalled constantly and that is an inevitable part."
"Smith can hold his head high with how he handles the situation."
"The Barmy Army need to be more respectful than that. The majority act that way and are very supportive of the events in the game."
