Lehmann Slams English Supporters for Abuse Directed at Steve Smith
Smith has played 38 games versus the English team and accumulated 3,436 career runs.
English crowds need to act better regarding the taunts they direct at Australian batter Smith, says ex- manager Darren Lehmann.
Steve Smith, 36 years old, has been a regular target of chants and jeers from English crowds in the wake of his involvement in the 2018 ball-altering scandal.
He was removed as captain and barred for a full year while Lehmann, who was exonerated of any offense, stepped down as coach in the wake of the episode.
"The taunts you receive is constant," Darren Lehmann stated. "This is astonishing."
"Smith is playing daily. It's likely tougher for him."
"Over in England they just don't forget. It's as if they have never committed an error in their existence."
"It's mainly the ones that consume excess alcohol and carry on like idiots."
History of the Ball-Tampering Episode
During a Test against South Africa, Steve Smith acknowledged Australia's "captain's group" devised a strategy to interfere with the cricket ball.
Former opener David Warner taught batter Bancroft how to use sandpaper to rough up the ball, and Bancroft was then spotted in the act by television cameras in the middle of the match. Warner and Bancroft were also suspended together with Smith.
Aftermath and Continued Response
Smith made his comeback following the ball-tampering episode in the 2019's Ashes series match at Edgbaston and has been jeered consistently since.
English supporters also center jeers on his upsetting press conference in 2018.
"We made the mistake, acknowledge it and move on," Darren Lehmann commented.
"You try to progress the best you can. We receive recalled every day and that is an inevitable part."
"He can hold his head high with how he deals with all of it."
"England's Barmy Army should be better than that. Most of them act that way and are quite encouraging of what goes on in the game."
