Sydney: Looks like sacked Australia captain Steve Smith wants to divert his mind away from the cricket and all the negativity surrounding the ball-tampering scandal for a while. The former captain was seen boarding a flight to Dubai after his emotional press-conference on his arrival in Sydney on Thursday regarding the ball-tampering row in South Africa, which brought his career to a standstill for the next 12 months.
The 28-year-old broke down while speaking about his family and the pain he must have caused them due to his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in the Cape Town Test. Smith had to be consoled by his father during the press-conference.
“To see the way my old man’s been…it hurts. I just want to say I’m sorry for the pain that I’ve brought to Australia and the fans and the public, it’s devastating and I’m truly sorry,” said a distraught Smith.
On Saturday, a video emerged of his father dumping his kit bag in the garage and saying he will be fine with time. “He’ll be fine, he’ll survive, he’ll survive,” Peter told Seven News as he placed the bag in storage.
Earlier on Saturday, David Warner also broke down while mentioning his family as he addressed the media. Speaking to the press on Saturday, he said: “There’s a tiny ray of hope that I may one day be given the privilege of playing for my country again but I’m resigned to the fact that it may never happen. I want you (Cricket Australia) to know that I fully support your review into the culture of the Australian cricket team.”
“To South African players, administration and fans, I apologise unreservedly for my part in this and I am sorry. I brought the game into disrepute on your soil. To all Australians, I can honestly say I have only ever wanted to bring glory to my country by playing cricket. In striving to do so, I have made a decision which has had an opposite effect and it’s one that I’ll regret for as long as I’ll live,” he added.
But, the failure to address certain questions, put him at the receiving of further flack on social media unlike Smith, who was received a lot of sympathy from his fans and the cricketing fraternity.
Smith, who has been barred from playing in this year’s Indian Premier League along with Warner, apologised for his actions and took the responsibility of the failure to keep up Australia’s efforts to play in the spirit of the game during the 3rd Test against South Africa last weekend.
“I want to, as captain of the Australian cricket team, I take full responsibility. It was a failure of leadership, my leadership,” he said. “I made a serious error in judgment. I will do everything I can to make up for my mistake and the damage it’s caused. If any good is to come from this it can be a lesson for others and I hope I can be a force for change. I know I’ll regret this for the rest of my life. I’m absolutely gutted,” said a tearful Smith.
Smith also hoped that he can play for his team again and live his ‘life’, that has been snatched away from him for his error of judgment for a year.
“I hope in time I can earn back respect and forgiveness, I’ve been so privileged and honoured to represent my country and captain the Australian cricket team. Cricket is the greatest game in the world. It’s been my life, and I hope it can be again,” he concluded.
Smith, Warner and Bancroft were given seven days to appeal against the one-year ban imposed on them by Cricket Australia but none of them made any indication about doing so except for Warner, who hinted that he will answer the questions that were unanswered on Twitter.
