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Ashes 2019: Booing of Steven Smith "distasteful"; UK sports minister urges fans to applaud him instead
Smith has been ruled out of the third Test that starts from Thursday after failing to pass the concussion test.
Britain's sports minister Nigel Adams has called out the booing of Australian batter Steve Smith during the ongoing Ashes series, and urged fans to applaud him instead. Smith, who was banned for a year for his role in the ball-tampering saga, has received a hostile welcome in United Kingdom right from the World Cup. He, along with David Warner, who too was banned, were booed in the World Cup, and chants of 'cheat' are audible when they are batting on the crease during the ongoing Ashes as well.
The recent incident saw spectators at Lord's boo Smith out after he had been hit on the neck by a Jofra Archer delivery in the second game. He had to walk out of the field for scans. Smith, who is in fine form in the series, scoring 142, 144 and 92 in the three innings thus far, was applauded after he walked out after being felled, but a section of the crowd jeered him.
“It’s distasteful and we have to remember that the Aussie players who got themselves into trouble have been punished and done the time.
“Smith, in particular, is a brilliant batsman and whilst of course, I don’t want him getting too many runs... he’s mesmerizing to watch and as genuine sports fans we should be applauding him, not jeering,” Adams added.
Smith has been ruled out of the third Test that starts from Thursday after failing to pass the concussion test.
