Monday, September 15, 2025
spot_img

Langer condems Smith’s criticism

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

BRISBANE, Jan 13: Australia coach Justin Langer cannot believe the “absolute load of rubbish” that Steve Smith was trying to scuff up Rishabh Pant’s guard in the drawn Sydney Test, and has called the criticism of his “quirks” way out of line and ludicrous.
Smith was accused of scuffing up the batsman’s guard during the drinks break in the first session on Monday in the drawn Test. But Langer backed Smith to the hilt, coming down heavily on the criticism, mostly driven by fans online and some former players like Michael Vaughan.
“…I literally cannot believe some of the rubbish I read about Steve Smith. Absolute load of rubbish. I mean, if anyone knows Steve Smith, he is a bit quirky and he does some weird (stuff) and we have laughed about it for the last couple of years,” Langer said in a virtual media conference facilitated by Sony Network here.
“I have spoken about it publicly, privately about how he is a bit quirky. What Steve Smith does at the crease, he does it probably most games, he is just thinking about the game,” the former batsman added.
Langer said Smith has been exemplary on and off the field since he has made his comeback following the ball-tampering scandal.
“Anyone who suggest for one millisecond, he was trying to do something untoward, way out of line. On that wicket, it was that flat, it was like concrete, you need 15 inches spikes to make an intent on the crease and he went nowhere near the crease.
Langer said the batting star faced a barrage of abuse on his return to cricket after the ball-tampering ban, especially on the tour of England, but never made a big deal of it, carrying on with utmost sincerity.
“In the last couple of years since he (Smith) has been back, he has been exemplary on and off the field, he has let his bat to the talking.”
“He was abused like I have never seen anything through England and he just kept smiling and doing his bat do the talking, give me a break…give me a break,” the head coach said. (PTI)

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Sena (UBT) stages protests against India-Pak match

Mumbai, Sep 14: The Shiv Sena (UBT) members on Sunday raised slogans and even destroyed a television set...

Pahalgam victim’s daughter calls for boycott of India-Pak tie

Pune, Sep 14: Asavari Jagdale, whose father Santosh Jagdale was one of the 26 people who lost their...

Pakistan is BJP’s partner: Tejashwi on Asia Cup match

Patna, Sep 14: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday attacked the BJP over the Asia Cup match in...

AAP workers hold protest in Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 14: Women workers of the AAP held a protest here on Sunday against the India-Pakistan...