The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Warne hits out over treatment of Smith
Former Australia spinner Shane Warne has hit out at the “disgraceful” treatment of Steve Smith by the media, stressing that the sacked captain “isn’t Pablo Escobar”.
A new-look Australia team returned to the field for the first time since the ball-tampering scandal on the opening day of the fourth Test against South Africa in Johannesburg yesterday.
However, Tim Paine’s side struggled to make an impact at the Wanderers, where Proteas opener Aiden Markram scored a century.
Smith and former vice-captain Warner have both been banned from international and domestic cricket for 12 months by Cricket Australia, while Cameron Bancroft was hit with a ninemonth suspension for his hands-on role in the debacle at Cape Town.
On Thursday, Smith and Bancroft, now back in Australia, both made emotionally-charged statements in further public apologies before coach Darren Lehmann also fought back tears as he announced his resignation after the Wanderers Test.
Warne, who took 708 wickets in 145 Tests, believes the media storm has spiralled out of control.
“He (Smith) isn’t Pablo Escobar,” Warne said to Sky Sports Cricket, referencing the Colombian drug lord.
“He didn’t kill anyone. He’s a guy that’s made a mistake. To see him being man-handled at airports, to see him attacked, it is like the dogs are all over him.
“I think it is a disgraceful behaviour from them. I think the way he has fronted up to the media has been completely honest, he has been up front and he has been emotional.
“You can see how much it means to him, breaking down at press conferences, and that’s because he’s feeling for the mistake he has made. He’s paid the consequences which I think has been way over the top.”