Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann has called on England supporters to move beyond persistent abuse directed at Steve Smith during the 2019 Ashes series, despite acknowledging the ongoing reminders of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
The controversy, which saw Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft banned from international cricket, stemmed from a plan devised by Australia’s “leadership group” to illegally alter the condition of the ball during a Test match against South africa. Warner instructed Bancroft on how to use sandpaper, and the incident was captured on television cameras.
Smith’s return to Test cricket came during the 2019 Ashes at Edgbaston, where he was met with consistent booing from England fans – a reaction that has continued throughout the series and beyond. those fans have also targeted Smith with taunts referencing his emotional press conference following the scandal.
Lehmann, reflecting on the situation, stated, “we did the wrong thing, accept it and move on.” He conceded that the players continue to face reminders of the incident daily, but praised Smith’s resilience in handling the ongoing negativity.
“You try to move on the best you can,” Lehmann said. “Steve Smith can hold his head high with how he handles everything.”
While acknowledging the passionate nature of the Barmy Army, England’s official supporters’ club, Lehmann expressed his belief that thay should strive for better conduct. “The barmy Army should be better than that. Most of them are and are very supportive of what goes on in the game.”
