Cheating scandal "too much to bear" for Steve Smith’s dad
The Australian cricket team scandal in South Africa has disheartened many people, from the teammates on the field to Aussie fans supporting from home, but one person who has been strongly impacted is Steve Smith’s dad.
The cricket-loving father, Peter Smith, told The Daily Telegraph, “I’m deliberately not reading about it or watching it on TV, as I don’t want to know.”
“Steve knows we’re supporting him; he’s our son, we’re there for him no matter what.”
On Saturday, Steve told a media conference the Australian team “leadership group” had talked about breaking the rules during the third Test in Cape Town, after Bancroft was caught on camera tampering with the ball.
Bancroft used sticky tape to gather dirt from the ground, which was rubbed into one side of the ball in an attempt to make it swing after being bowled.
Peter revealed that he and his wife Gillian were travelling to South Africa to be by their son’s side during the heat of the controversy.
“It’s a very difficult time for the family, for all of us, not just Steve,” he said from his southern Sydney home.
“We’re speaking to him on the phone every day. He’s been calling us.”
Peter coached Steve until he was 16 years old, when the young athlete’s talent showed that he could go far in his sport.
Steve was entrusted into the hands of professional coaches, but his proud father always stayed involved behind-the-scene.
Before the 2016 South African tour, Steve revealed that his father had bowled some balls for him as part of his preparations. He also helped his son launch his autobiography last year.
Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland flew to South Africa to launch an official investigation after the incident.
This morning, James Sutherland confirmed that only three players knew of the ball tampering plan.
“The key finding is that prior knowledge was limited to three players, Steve Smith, David Warner, Cameron Bancroft,” he said.
“No other players or support staff had prior knowledge. This includes Darren Lehmann, who despite inaccurate media reports, has not resigned from his position.
“He will continue to coach the Australian men’s team under his current contract (until the end of the 2019 Ashes).”