‘Genuine, raw and emotional’
The ball-tampering incident in the Cape Town Test and the subsequent penalties handed out to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft have had the cricket community coming out on Twitter and expressing their opinions.
Developments have come in thick and fast over the past couple of days, ending with Smith breaking down during a press conference and Darren Lehmann, the Australia coach, announcing that the final Test of the series in South Africa would be his last.
First, a look at how Smith went in his press interaction after landing in Sydney.
Watch LIVE: Steve Smith addresses the media after returning home to Sydney https://t.co/ljh0A32bMh
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 29, 2018
And then we heard Lehmann, speaking from Johannesburg.
On an almost unbelievable day for our team, here was how coach Darren Lehmann resigned. WATCH MORE: https://t.co/SVlt3QLMVq pic.twitter.com/RUKCCc9Ok7
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 29, 2018
Sachin Tendulkar wanted everyone to lay off the cricketers and give them their space.
They are regretting and hurting and will have to live with the consequences of their act. Spare a thought for their families as they have much to endure along with the players. Time for all of us to take a step back and give them some space.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 29, 2018
Some others shared Tendulkar’s sentiment, asking for the offenders to be forgiven.
At least Steve smith has the courage to admit like a man but absolutely gutted to see Steve smith breaking down @ the press conference & also they way people treating him @ Airport & in Australia its sad ..
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) March 29, 2018
leave that poor chap alone now ..
Absolutely disgraceful to everyone there.. can’t treat Steve smith like this @stevesmith49... u all are crazy pic.twitter.com/zGXgFWL9PP
— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) March 29, 2018
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 29, 2018
‘Good people make mistakes’ .. I honestly think Steve Smith & Cam Bancroft are decent guys who had a moment of madness .. they deserve a 2nd chance and hopefully get the right support around them now .. Takes a lot guts to do what they did today ..
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 29, 2018
Punishment? Yes, because we must be responsible for our actions. However, forgiveness is more important because everybody needs a second chance. #sandpapergate
— Mpumelelo Mbangwa (@mmbangwa) March 29, 2018
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) March 29, 2018
Really feel sorry for him, a one year ban is a bit harsh.... hopefully all this is over now! https://t.co/4Gd0g3GWGN
— Marizanne Kapp (@kappie777) March 29, 2018
Genuine, raw and emotional. A strikingly contrite response to the hysteria, outrage and vitriol clogging up the feeds. I could barely keep it together watching that. A bad mistake won’t define for me the character I’ve seen for a decade. Good human, bad choice. Still a good human
— Peter Nevill (@pmnevill) March 29, 2018
Fair play Bancroft and Steve Smith taking it head on and fronting up. That was hard to watch and can’t imagine what they’re going through .People make mistakes but being able to own up and take responsibility takes guts.
— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) March 29, 2018
Heartbreaking to watch Smith and Bancroft...hopefully this is the end of it all now!!
— Charlotte Edwards (@C_Edwards23) March 29, 2018
So very hard to watch, well done Smithy and Bangas, horrible to see the pain they are in! They did wrong but will be back bigger and better! #goodyoungmen
— Ryan Harris (@r_harris413) March 29, 2018