ROOT SLAMS CHEAT SMITH
Root lays into Aussie skipper
JOE ROOT has accused disgraced Australia captain Steve Smith of letting his players down.
The England skipper laid into his Ashes counterpart as the fallout from the ball-tampering scandal was still echoing round the world. Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland will give an update in Johannesburg tonight – with the futures of coach Darren Lehmann, bowling coach David Saker, Smith and vice-captain David Warner on the line. Stuart Broad hinted yesterday that England players had their suspicions that something was going on during the winter Ashes series. Root stopped short of that, only saying: “I personally wasn’t aware of anything going on throughout that series.” But he did not hold back on Smith’s shortcomings as a skipper. He said: “As captain you’re responsible for the way everyone else behaves and you want to make sure that’s within the laws and within the spirit of the game. “I just have to look after my group of guys and make sure that I’m happy with the way they’re conducting themselves and if not make sure things are done right. “As an international player you know the rules and it’s important you shouldn’t really have to back that up. It’s as simple as that.” Root, speaking after England’s innings defeat by New Zealand in the first Test in Auckland, added: “Every time you go out and represent your country you know there’s a load of cameras around. You’re under the spotlight and it’s really important you give absolutely everything on the field and make sure you do everything you can to win but do it in the right way. It’s as simple as that.”
Sutherland is under pressure at home, with sponsors expressing their anger at the Aussies being caught cheating when Cameron Bancroft was filmed trying to change the condition of the ball with a piece of sticky tape.
Lead Ashes partner Magellan, Qantas, Asics, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Bupa, Specsavers, Toyota, and brewer Lion, which owns beer sponsor XXXX, have all voiced disappointment at events in South Africa.
Trouble
Smith, who yesterday stood down as skipper of IPL side Rajasthan Royals, has already been banned from Friday’s fourth Test.
But former England captain Nasser Hussain insists Lehmann has some explaining to do.
“It doesn’t look good either way,” said Hussain. “If he did know, he’s in a heap of trouble and will not be able to hold his job down if he is condoning cheating.
“If he didn’t know, then questions will be asked as to why senior players are going round not telling the coach what is going on.”
If Lehmann is axed, then Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting are the leading candidates to replace him.