Apologetic Smith, quitting Lehmann reduced to tears
SYDNEY/JOHANNESBURG: The fall-out from the ball-tampering scandal in cricket reduced Australia’s two most high-profile figures to tears on Thursday, with captain Steve Smith apologising to the nation and his family before coach Darren Lehmann announced his intention to quit.
After losing the captaincy of the Test team because of the incident in South Africa, Smith returned to Australia and broke down several times in a news conference at the Sydney airport.
“I just want to say I’m sorry for the pain that I’ve brought to Australia and the fans and the public,” he said. “It’s devastating and I’m truly sorry.”
Smith started crying as he took responsibility for the ball-tampering plot in the Cape Town Test last weekend and reflected on the effect his involvement in it has had on his parents.
Hours later, Lehmann wiped away tears at a news conference in Johannesburg while announcing he would be quitting as Australia coach when the ill-tempered series against South Africa concluded after the fourth and final Test, which starts from Friday at the Wanderers.
“My family and I have copped a lot of abuse over the last week,” Lehmann said. “And it’s taken its toll on them. I really feel for Steve, as I saw him crying in front of the media. All the players are really hurting.“This will be my last Test as head coach of the Australian cricket team,” Lehmann told a press conference on the eve of the fourth and final Test. “Saying goodbye to the players was the toughest thing I have ever had to do.The feeling is that Australian cricket needs to move forward and this is the right thing to do.”
Speaking in Johannesburg soon after Lehmann’s announcement, Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland said he wanted to pay tribute to the coach. “He provided fantastic service and has been part of a very successful team that has achieved a lot during his time.
“I have seen first hand the pride in which he has gone about his work and the love he has for the job and his incredible work ethic. He genuinely loves and respects his players.”
Lehmann, who was due to leave the job after the 2019 Ashes series in England, is going despite being cleared of any role in the scandal.It has been a tumultuous 24 hours for Smith, who left South Africa in disgrace after being sent home by Cricket Australia.
At the airport in Johannesburg, he was led through the international terminal by up to six police and security guards, hearing boos and taunts of ‘cheater’ from a crowd that had gathered.
Smith and Cameron Bancroft fronted news conferences on opposite sides of Australia, while the third player involved in the controversial ball-tampering scandal in South Africa David Warner used social media to issue an apology while still in the air.
Warner arrived in Sydney a few hours later and told reporters it had been ‘a tough and emotional time’. Holding one of his children and with his wife standing next to him with another, Warner said his priority was to “get these kids in bed, rest up, and let my mind be clear so I can talk to you in a couple of days.”