Smith, Warner must ‘ride the storm’ in South Africa: Hazlewood
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Steve Smith and David Warner will be ready for whatever South African crowds throw at them when the Australia batsmen return to the nation two years after the ball-tampering scandal, paceman Josh Hazlewood has said.
The pair will fly out with the Australia squad today for a limited overs tour in the duo’s first visit to the country since serving 12-month bans for their parts in the tampering plot during the Cape Town test.
The pair were jeered relentlessly by English crowds during last year’s one-day World Cup and the following Ashes series, and Hazlewood said they would be unfazed by more hostility.
“Steve and Dave have ticked off pretty much every box since coming back,” Hazlewood told reporters in Sydney yesterday.
“It’s just another one of those and I don’t think it’ll faze them one bit.
“They probably play better when it’s like this.
“It’s nothing we haven’t experienced before ... we’ll be fine.”
Both Smith and Warner have thrived since returning to the national fold after their bans expired last March.
Smith played a leading role in Australia’s retention of the Ashes while Warner was awarded the Allan Border Medal for the third time on Monday as the country’s top cricketer in 2019.
Local media have reported that the head of the national players’ union will tour with the side in South Africa to offer extra support for the players.
Hazlewood said Smith and Warner would not need to be shielded.
“They’ll probably try to take as much heat as they can actually, try to keep the young guys out of the spotlight,” added the paceman.
Hazlewood said engaging positively with fans was the best way to defuse them.
“Join in and try to have a good time with them. Often when you do that, they end up being on your side after a couple of overs,” he said.
“It is when you fight them that it becomes to and fro, and quite abusive. Ride the storm and go along with it.”
The Ministry of Public Health and the Petra Organization have renewed their longstanding partnership, aiming once again to utilise the annual Milo Secondary School U-18 Football Championship as an avenue to address the social ill of genderbased violence.
This collaboration was announced yesterday at a press conference held at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
“We will be setting up satellite tables at all of the games to disseminate information on sexual reproductive health, substance abuse and most importantly, violence among our adolescents. The reason why we are looking at reproductive health and substance abuse is because these two issues also contribute significantly to the increased violence among our young people,” Adolescent Health Coordinator Cilandell Glen said.
Similarly, Lauren Bancroft, a Senior Health Promotion Officer, stated that the event provides the ideal platform and avenue to teach young people about conflict resolution.
Troy Mendonca, Co-Director of the Petra Organization, praised the ministry for their continued support and partnership, and said that the tournament is an ideal platform to raise awareness of gender-based violence.
Meanwhile, the event will commence tomorrow at the same venue with a tripleheader. At 12:00hrs, President’s College will oppose Queenstown while Marian Academy will engage St Joseph High at 13:45hrs. In the final match, East Ruimveldt will oppose St Stanislaus College from 15:30hrs.