Skip to main content

Referee warned about Smith, Warner in 2016, says report

Sydney, March 30

A match referee warned of disgraced Australian cricketers Steve Smith and David Warner “being involved in a ball-tampering incident” in the domestic Sheffield Shield in 2016, a media report said on Friday.

The report came after Smith and Warner were stripped of the captaincy and vice-captaincy and banned for a year from the sport after being caught up in a plot to alter the condition of the ball during the third Test against South Africa.

Daryl Harper said the pair was not engaging in fair play while representing New South Wales in a match against Victoria in November 2016, according to an email he sent to Cricket Australia’s match referee and umpire selection manager Simon Taufel, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

“When David Warner repeatedly bounced his returns in to (NSW wicket-keeper) Peter Nevill on the first day, the umpires appealed to Smith to support their calls for fair play,” the former Australian Test umpire reportedly wrote in the email.

“They weren’t encouraged by his response. I assisted the umpires on the second morning by suggesting to (NSW coach) Trent Johnston that CA didn’t need an issue with the national captain being involved in a ball-tampering incident.”

Harper, who is Australian, said Smith had complained about the state of the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch after his team lost, and also “gave the impression that he wasn’t happy to be playing the Sheffield Shield match”.

“This was at the same time that the South African captain (Faf du Plessis) was under scrutiny (for ball tampering) and before he had been charged,” Harper added.

“As it transpired, there were no further errant throws for the final three days of the game from either team. Steve’s participation in the post-match meeting was quite limp, and not as I would expect from our national captain.”

Cricket Australia has announced a review into team culture in the wake of the South Africa ball-tampering scandal.

Smith and Bancroft held emotional press conferences in Australia on Thursday after returning from South Africa, while coach Darren Lehmann said he would quit after the fourth and final Test which starts on Friday, despite being cleared of any involvement in the affair.

David Warner is due to address the media in Sydney on Saturday. AFP



https://ift.tt/2pSoAGN

Comments

Related Posts

'Kuldeep Yadav was the X-factor India missed' – Former Australian captain questions team selection in England series

Michael Clarke believes India missed a trick by not playing Kuldeep Yadav in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, suggesting his 'X-factor' could have helped take 20 wickets. He lauded Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar's exceptional all-round performances, highlighting their significant batting contributions alongside their bowling efforts, which cemented their places in the team. from Sports News: Cricket Live Scores, Latest Sports News, Football, NBA, NFL, WWE, NHL, MLB News & More https://ift.tt/LCtMOGm

KL Rahul's unique birthday wish for 'Ajja' Suniel Shetty

KL Rahul shared a heartfelt birthday message for his father-in-law, Suniel Shetty, while reflecting on India's impressive 2-2 series draw against England. Rahul highlighted the team's resilience in the absence of key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, emphasizing the significance of the result for Indian Test cricket's future. from Sports News: Cricket Live Scores, Latest Sports News, Football, NBA, NFL, WWE, NHL, MLB News & More https://ift.tt/YhuMKdF

Who is Saaniya Chandok, Arjun Tendulkar's fiancee after private engagement

Arjun Tendulkar, son of Sachin Tendulkar, is engaged to Saaniya Chandok, granddaughter of businessman Ravi Ghai, in a private ceremony. Saaniya is a Director at Mr. Paws Pet Spa & Store and comes from the Ghai family, known for their ventures in the hospitality and food sector, including The Brooklyn Creamery and Baskin Robbins. from Sports News: Cricket Live Scores, Latest Sports News, Football, NBA, NFL, WWE, NHL, MLB News & More https://ift.tt/DEvWnBL

'Are we still stuck in the colonial era?' - Pathan on Gambhir vs The Oval pitch curator saga

Tensions flared ahead of the final Test between India and England as a heated argument erupted between India's coach, Gautam Gambhir, and pitch curator Lee Fortis over pitch access. Irfan Pathan's social media post ignited a debate about double standards, questioning why England's coach had pitch access while Gambhir did not. from Sports News: Cricket Live Scores, Latest Sports News, Football, NBA, NFL, WWE, NHL, MLB News & More https://ift.tt/gwZFX1m

England cricketer blocked from promoting OnlyFans in The Hundred

Tymal Mills, the England fast bowler, was prohibited by the ECB from displaying his OnlyFans logo on his bat during The Hundred in August 2025. The decision was influenced by the family-friendly nature of the tournament, as OnlyFans didn't align with it. from Sports News: Cricket Live Scores, Latest Sports News, Football, NBA, NFL, WWE, NHL, MLB News & More https://ift.tt/WtlM5kc