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Steve Smith won’t challenge cricket ban over ball tampering

Apr 04, 2018

Steve Smith has broken his social media silence. Source: Getty.

Former Australian skipper Steve Smith has confirmed he won’t challenge his year-long ban from cricket after he was caught up in a ball tampering scandal.

The former Aussie captain broke down in tears just days ago, as he made an emotional apology to his family and fans.

Now, he has broken his social media silence for the first time since the cheating incident, and expressed his regret over the huge error in judgement, saying he’d “give anything” to be able to play for his country again.

He tweeted: “I would give anything to have this behind me and be back representing my country. But I meant what I said about taking full responsibility as Captain of the team. I won’t be challenging the sanctions. They’ve been imposed by CA to send a strong message and I have accepted them.”

I would give anything to have this behind me and be back representing my country. But I meant what I said about taking full responsibility as Captain of the team. I won’t be challenging the sanctions. They’ve been imposed by CA to send a strong message and I have accepted them.

— Steve Smith (@stevesmith49) April 4, 2018

It got a mixed response from his followers, with many supporting him, while others slammed him for getting involved in the scandal in the first place.

One Twitter user wrote: “You’ve handled it all with impressive dignity. I’m sure you will come back stronger,” while another added: “It’s a great thing that you have owned up your mistake. You are still one of my favourite cricketers.”

However one user wrote: “When you know the consequences of this grave why you accepted to do tampering then? Should’ve thought a while before accepting.”

A devastated Smith couldn’t contain his emotions in his press conference last week when asked what he had to say to the millions of Aussie kids who look up to him and the game of cricket and sobbed as he apologised for the pain he’d caused his parents.

“Anytime you think about making a questionable decision think about who you’re affecting,” he said to young cricket fans. He added through tears: “You’re affecting your parents and to think about the way my old man’s been … and my mum, it hurts.”

“It hurts … I’m deeply sorry. I love the game of cricket. I love entertaining young kids … I just want to say sorry for the pain I’ve brought to Australia, to the fans and the public.”

Smith also apologised to his teammates and said he takes full responsibility for the ball tampering, despite the fact former vice captain David Warner has been named as the mastermind behind the plan.

Warner himself followed Smith’s lead shortly after, and cried on camera as he paid a heartfelt apology to his wife and children – admitting he’s “resigned” himself to the fact he may never playing cricket again.

The scandal was first exposed when player Cameron Bancroft was caught in South Africa attempting to alter the condition of the cricket ball by rubbing one side of it with sandpaper he had hidden in his trousers. An investigation by Cricket Australia found that just three people – Bancroft, former captain Smith and vice-captain Warner – knew of the plan, and that Warner had been the driving force behind it.