Steve Smith breaks down during press conference after returning to Australia
Steve Smith had an emotional breakdown while addressing the media after returning from South Africa following the Sandpapergate fiasco. The former Aussie skipper admitted that it had been “a failure of his leadership” and apologized to the fans for the disrepute that they had brought to the sport.
Following Sandpaper-gate, Smith immediately stood down from the captaincy and was handed a one-match ban by the ICC for his actions. Cricket Australia, yesterday, after concluding their investigations independently through their integrity unit, announced that he, along with David Warner, had been banned from cricket activity for a year. Cameron Bancroft was also handed a nine-month ban for his role in the fiasco at Newlands.
Even before the decision about banning the players had been made, CA had clarified that the trio had been asked to make their way back to Australia before the start of the final Test against South Africa. In his first media address since the now infamous admission press conference, Smith broke down in tears multiple times and took full responsibility for his actions.
"It was a failure of my leadership," Steve Smith said at the news conference in Sydney.
"I am deeply sorry, I love the game of cricket, I love kids wanting to play the great game of cricket that I love.
"To all my team-mates, to fans of cricket all over the world, to all Australians who are disappointed and angry, I am sorry. I want to make clear that as captain of the Australian cricket team I take full responsibility.
Smith, who had been crucified in the Australian media, went on to say that if anything good could come out of the incident it would be that he could be seen as a “force for change.”
"I made a serious error of judgement and I now understand the consequences. It was a failure of my leadership. I will do everything I can to make up for my mistake and the damage it has caused,” Smith added.
"If any good can come of this, I hope I can be a force for change. I know I will regret this for the rest of my life. I am absolutely gutted. I hope in time I can earn back respect and forgiveness."
Smith even went on to tell young cricketers to think about their families before they decided to do anything unethical.
"Any time you think about making a questionable decision, think about affecting your parents. To see the way my old man has been, and my mum, it hurts. I just want to say I'm sorry for the pain I have brought to Australia and the fans and the public."
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— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 29, 2018