#StandBySmith

[charcoalchicken]

Captain

There's no way he can remain as captain, that's crazy talk.

 

[The Grover]

Far out Faf tampers with the ball and gets a fine only and everyone in here wants smith to hang from the cross?

**** me you are all a bunch of precious petals

Can someone explain what Faf did will ball tampering and what penalty he got.

Didn't he have 2 instances, 1 with mints and another ?

 

[The_Reaper]

Can someone explain what Faf did will ball tampering and what penalty he got.

Didn't he have 2 instances, 1 with mints and another ?

One with mints one with zipper.

 

[PAFC_1870]

Never liked him, his batting is one thing everything else has rubbed me the wrong way.

No way he can remain captain and no way should anyone defend him.

 

[flamethrower]

#standbybenjohnson
#standbylancearmstrong
#standbyhird
#standbysmith

I am seeing a pattern here.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

Standing by Smith means you condone cheating. Then again you are an Essendon supporter sooo...

Smith needs to be stood down as captain immediately, there simply is no other option.

 

[AndyLucimitis]

Nope !! - Been a proud Australian supporter for 40 odd years but I am over Smith and particularly Warner. He is a buffoon.

This is Australia's team and time it develops some class. I'm at a stage where I don't care if we lose but need to regain some respect.

 

[Marstermind]

Maintaining he was the best man for the job whilst throwing Bancroft and four senior players under the bus wasn't inspiring leadership either. You're the captain. You own it.

#smithstandsalone

 

[Mr Anderson]

It's a really sad day when you wake up to the realisation that your national cricket team is led by morally bankrupt cheats who haven't been content to just drag the image of themselves, and by extension the whole country, into the gutter through their consistently poor behaviour. Had to go the whole hog and ruin it for everyone.

Win at all costs, regardless of the rules? That corrupts the very essence of sporting contests, Mr Smith. Kills the game for those whose support and money pays your bloated performance contract.

So long, Cricket, I loved you once but I no longer recognise you.

 

[Underdog]

Well, I thought he was a mediocre captain to begin with. This incident further emphasises the fact. Not opposed to him being stripped of the captaincy.

 

[beta_condition]

A one match ban for ball tampering is actually on the severe side. Most players just get fined - even Sachin's ban was suspended.

You could argue that ICC sanctions should be harsher, but given what they are a one match ban for ball-tampering, plus being stripped of the captaincy (which has never happened over ball tampering before to my knowledge), should suffice where Smith is concerned.

Far as I'm aware those weren't planned and ongoing tactics, I wouldn't care if Smith never played again for Australia.

 

[Ok Boomer]

I have less of an issue with Smith than with other elements in the team but he needs to still pay a price as this and various other incidents have happened under his watch.

 

[craffles]

Up to a five test ban for all involved, and Smith never to be captain again.

It's harsh, but it needs to be. This is the darkest hour in Australian cricket history.

Jesus christ, the darkest hour in Aus cricket history?? Phil Hughes? World Series Cricket? I can keep going. Get a grip this is a blip on the radar

 

[Mr Fonebone]

How fast would The Don be spinning at the moment?

 

[damochandler]

Phil Hughes death wasn’t our darkest hour for Christ sakes. It was most difficult hour

 

[damochandler]

The bloke planned it.

He wanted to cheat

He should cop his right whack and should be stripped of his captaincy and should be suspended. It’s not political correctness

 

[craffles]

Phil Hughes death wasn’t our darkest hour for Christ sakes. It was most difficult hour

Darkest hour literally means that, when you are at your worst point. Phil Hughes death rocked the game in this country to it's core and still impacts everyone, world series cricket nearly destroyed the game here.

This was a shithouse incident that should go down with the likes of Mark Waugh bookie scandal etc. The guys involved need to cop their whack but it's not the death of cricket in Australia nor it's lowest point and the pitchforks should be put away.

That's my two cents anyway, we will most likely have to agree to disagree

 

[Tulip]

Smith is a cheat.

 

[jr4jane2004]

Rajasthan Royals have sacked Steve Smith as captain. The Australian government is calling for his resignation. Why oh why Smitty?

 

[The_Reaper]

Rajasthan Royals have sacked Steve Smith as captain. The Australian government is calling for his resignation. Why oh why Smitty?

Isn't that the IPL team which got banned for two years for fixing?

Lel

 

[Corrupt_]

Lose 100% of match pay. Retain captaincy and plays next test. Why is this ANY different to fafs ball tampering? Faf did it twice, Smith did it once.

 

[Frank Gallagher]

Some of you are going on like he's been fixing matches, needs to give a heart felt apology/25k fine and a 4 match suspension.

 

[DaRick]

Far as I'm aware those weren't planned and ongoing tactics, I wouldn't care if Smith never played again for Australia.

I doubt that teams just spontaneously decide to tamper with the ball without any forethought.

EDIT: Or rather, that this Australian side is the only side ever to have done so.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

It's very galling listening to Vaughan talk critically about ball tampering when that is PRECISELY what he directed his team to do in 2005. He is a campaigner of the highest order; given his history, he should have the self awareness to shut up about it.

But here is the thing: Australia holds its cricketers to high standards, and Smith has broken those standards. I get that this series has been trying. They have been abused on the field, they have had the ICC break its own rules to effectively bend to Cricket South Africa. I understand Smith's frustration. But he shouldn't have done it. He especially shouldn't have got a new player to international cricket—one still trying to earn his stripes—to do it. It is a massive lapse in leadership.

I feel sorry to Smith. He seems like a good bloke. But, sadly, he has to relinquish the captaincy.

 

[Professor Knowall]

The NSW mafia (aka the Australian team leadership group) were all involved in this scandal - Smith, Warner, Hazelwood and Lyon. This toxic cheating NSW culture must be removed from all aspects of leadership of the Australian team.