Steve Smith apologises to Aussie teammates in wake of ‘letting my emotions get the better of me’
After being hit with fine for dissent, Steve Smith said he felt obliged to apologise for this behaviour to his Aussie teammates as ‘we sign up to values and we’ve got a code of conduct to play by’.
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Steve Smith has apologised to his Aussie team-mates behind closed doors for the behavioural lapse which saw him fined for dissent playing for NSW last week.
Smith was fined a quarter of his Sheffield Shield match fee for showing dissent after being given out on Tuesday on day two of the match against Western Australia.
Smith dwelt momentarily and shook his head after he was deemed to have edged a Marcus Stoinis delivery to keeper Josh Inglis and continued to show his displeasure on his way to the dressing room.
Smith, preparing for his first Test in Australia since being banned for year after the ball tampering scandal in South Africa, said he felt obliged to apologise for this behaviour as the team assembled in Brisbane for Thursday’s first Test against Pakistan.
“Sometimes your emotions can get the better of you out on the field,’’ Smith said.
“We’re playing a game (where) everyone is trying to do their best and sometimes that happens. I came in and apologised to the group yesterday for getting a code of conduct.
“I don’t think there was a great deal in it but I’ve copped it and I have to look at when I get out and the way I sort of conduct myself.
“I know lots of kids watch me play and watch all of us play and the way we conduct ourselves when we get out as well as when we’re batting.
“So we have to be very mindful of that and sometimes just bite the bullet and just conduct ourselves in, I guess, a better manner at times.’’
“We’re Australian players regardless of where we’re playing and what we’re doing. We sign up to values and in our contracts we’ve got a code of conduct there we have to play by. I got pinged and so be it. I felt I should apologise for that.
Smith agreed it was best to keep any lingering resentment well away from public view.
“I think so. When you get behind closed doors, go for your life, do what you need to do to let your frustrations out. Within reason – you probably don’t want to punch anything. Mitch Marsh can probably attest to that.’’
Australia was proud of having a blemish free code of behaviour summer last season despite the deep stresses of a series loss to India but Smith and James Pattinson, who will miss the first Test against Pakistan after disciplined for a homophobic sledge playing for Victoria, have but the behaviour issue back in the spotlight.