Hughes backs 12-month Smith ban

KIM Hughes, the only other Australian cricket captain to shed tears at a press conference, says he knows what Steve Smith is going through

Despite his sympathy for Smith’s plight, Hughes agreed with the 12-month ban for his part in the ball-tampering scandal.

The flamboyant former Test batsman, now 64, famously resigned from the top job in November 1984 after a run of dismal scores against the allconquering West Indies side and a vicious media campaign aimed at undermining his authority.

In full glare of the nation’s TV networks, Hughes read out a prepared statement outlining his reasons for stepping down but became emotional before he could reach the end. Team manager Bob Merriman was forced to read the rest.

Initially dismayed by the ball tampering controversy, Hughes now says he feels for Smith. “There is no one else in Australia who can understand what he is going through,” Hughes said. “I’ve seen his tears. I can relate to it. I went through it and it’s lonely.

“I have sympathy for him. I think a 12-month ban is right.”

Hughes says the way forward for the Australian cricket side now is to concentrate on playing the game and forget about premeditated sledging and stretching the rules.

“We used to sledge blokes and stuff, but it wasn’t discussed at a team meeting ... it was spur of the moment.”