Cricket greats slam booing of an injured Steve Smith

Cricket legends including Ian Healy lash ‘disgusting’ behaviour of fans in response to frightening hit.

Players rush to assist Australian batsman Steve Smith after he was hit in the neck by a ball off the bowling of England's Jofra Archer.

Ian Healy has slammed the “disgusting” behaviour of a small group of fans who booed Steve Smith after he was hit on the neck by a bouncer at Lord’s.

And English captain Michael Vaughn, former Australian skipper Mark Taylor and legend Shane Warne also voiced their disapproval as did Australian cricket’s players’ union, The Sunday Telegraph reports.

Smith copped a frightening blow on day four of the second Ashes Test, when he misread a Jofra Archer delivery that could have done serious damage.

The 30-year-old was able to walk off the field without assistance and passed a concussion test, returning to bat at the fall of the next wicket. There was a standing ovation when Smith walked off the ground, most members of the crowd also stood and applauded when he resumed his knock.

But some of England’s supporters opted to boo the batsman, who has copped plenty of abuse and jeers during both the World Cup and Ashes in his comeback tour from a year-long suspension, at both junctures.

Healy, who is hosting Nine Network’s coverage of the showpiece series, was shocked.

“It was disgusting,” Healy said.

“Lord’s won’t be happy with that either.

“They don’t like any ‘yobbo’ element of crowd behaviour.”

Australia coach Justin Langer shrugged his shoulders then choose his words wisely when asked about the boos.

“What can I say? … I’ve spoken enough about the boos, there’s nothing we can do about the boos,” Langer said.

“There is also a lot of people standing and applauding him.”

Mark Taylor, who is on deck at the home of cricket as a Nine pundit, lashed the booing as “very disappointing”.

Shane Warne suggested booing Smith in other instances was one thing but to add insult to injury was not on.

“Just get up, clap and say that’s courageous, very brave,” Warne said in commentary.