Banned skipper Steve Smith left shattered by appeal rejection

Steve Smith remained silent through the angry debate surrounding whether the banned trio should have their sanctions relaxed. But the former skipper has broken his silence to Blues teammates.

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Steve Smith didn’t utter a single word while the row was raging over whether Australia’s three banned cricketers should be allowed back early.

Smith kept his lips sealed but now that the decision has been made and he will have to serve out his full 12-month punishment, he has told teammates that while he’s disappointed by the outcome he’s relieved that the increasingly angry debate is finally over.

The former Test skipper caught up with fast bowler Pat Cummins at the Sydney Cricket Ground nets and told the paceman he was resigned to putting all his energy into playing whatever cricket he’s allowed to.

Former Australia teammates Pat Cummins (L) and Steve Smith. Picture: Getty

“I think he’s pretty disappointed, I think he was hopeful of that getting lifted,” Cummings said.

“But to be honest, I think he’s just over it, all the speculation and talk, he’s just over it and he just wants to play some cricket.”

While Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all opted not to challenge their suspensions for their roles in the ball tampering scandal, the Australian Australian Cricketers Association lodged an appeal to have the bans reduced, arguing that they should at least be able to play Sheffield Shield.

A distressed Steve Smith at his tampering press conference. Picture: AFP

The appeal triggered a fierce national debate with opinions deeply divided on whether or not they should be reinstated and Cricket Australia opted to let the original penalties stand.

Warner, speaking before the appeals were rejected, pleaded for the squabbling to stop, saying the row was undermining the current team and Cummins said Smith had also been fed up with all the speculation.

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“There’s some good T20 comps around the world coming up that hopefully he’ll go and play but yeah I think he’s sick of all the talk,” Cummins said.

“He said he’s in a really good place, he’s happy he’s playing, obviously he’s love to be playing the Tests and everything else that’s coming up but he’s ready to get over it.”

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