Steve Smith

• I WANT to say the legions of cricket fans who condemn Steve Smith for dragging the sport into the dark are 1,000 per cent correct.

I want to say the year-long ban that he served for ball-tampering wasn’t nearly enough. I want to say a life-ban would have been more appropriate, and, as he was the Australian captain at the time, even that should have been doubled.

I want to say all of the above, but I can’t. And that’s because I’m a true cricket fan.

Of course, Smith (inset) deserved to be punished for cheating, and a 12-month suspension, along with a few tears in front of the cameras, wasn’t nearly severe enough of a sentence.

But that was the punishment that he, vice-captain David Warner and team-mate Cameron Bancroft, who was banned for nine months, received.

Those involved have now served their bans and returned to action, and, looking at the way Smith carved out two centuries to earn Australia victory over England in the first Ashes Test, those who love watching the game should feel grateful that they have. The fact that Smith has been able to return to the sport is ultimately a good thing.

It’s a second chance for him, and it’s a second chance for us, the fans, to see one of the greatest batsmen to have ever graced the game. Smith was unplayable against England.

And when Warner was booed, albeit in more of a pantomime fashion, by supporters at Edgbaston, he even showed a touch of humour during a time of great pressure by turning his pockets inside out to prove that he wasn’t up to anything untoward.

I have been looking forward to seeing Smith and co playing at Lord’s.

HENRY FREDERICKS
NW8