Steve Smith’s heartfelt apology wins widespread praise

The banned skipper won praise for a brave apology, but a radio station’s bizarre attempt to hijack it did not go down well.

Steve Smith’s raw, emotional apology over ball tampering and his year-long ban has won him widespread praise, a positive sign as he looks to rebuild his reputation.

The former skipper took full responsibility for the incident in the third Test against Cape Town, which involved Cameron Bancroft and David Warner.

The 28-year-old fought back tears throughout his Sydney media conference, but he was unable to prevent weeping openly when discussing the affect the saga had had on his parents.

• Steve Smith: ‘I’m absolutely devastated’

• Peter Lalor: ‘A broken man, and still one to be proud of’

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has reached out to Smith, sending his shamed-and-sacked counterpart a message of support.

Du Plessis says he feels incredibly sorry for Smith, who has been slapped with a 12-month ban by Cricket Australia for his role in the ball-tampering scandal.

“You don’t want to see the guy going through that stuff ... he’s one of the good guys and been caught in a bad place,” du Plessis told reporters in Johannesburg.

Haven't Australia made enough of a spectacle of Steve Smith? I'm blown by what he is being put through.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 29, 2018

We are not the sum total of our greatest mistakes. My heart goes out to @stevesmith49 who has given me so much cricketing joy over the years. He is also a thoroughly decent human being. I stand by him and will be here upon his return. #SteveSmith

— Peter Helliar 🌈🌥☘️ (@pjhelliar) March 29, 2018

No one's perfect. A terrible lapse in judgement but good people make mistakes. Credit to Steve Smith for fronting up. Now let’s give him some time and space.

— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) March 29, 2018

Enough is enough. Smith, Warner& Bancroft did wrong, they have paid for it. What are you trying to do? They aren’t criminals.

— Barnaby Joyce (@Barnaby_Joyce) March 29, 2018

‘Good people make mistakes’ .. I honestly think Steve Smith & Cam Bancroft are decent guys who had a moment of madness .. they deserve a 2nd chance and hopefully get the right support around them now .. Takes a lot guts to do what they did today ..

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 29, 2018

Response to the press conference also included stinging backlash for a Sydney radio show which tried to hijack it with a question about Married At First Sight ...

This is the bizarre moment a heckler compared a distraught Steve Smith to participants on @MarriedAU. #9News pic.twitter.com/6TJQuUfk1T

— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) March 29, 2018

Let’s hope the pathetic attempt from the @kyleandjackieo show at the Steve Smith presser gets some of the same public fallout #losers

— Michael Felgate (@MFelgate7) March 29, 2018

Mostly, though, those who watched recognised a man who had done wrong and regretted it deeply:

Australia has seen the Steve Smith that they didn’t know. He loves his family. He loves his cricket. He’s a real man. Albeit a young man who can admit mistakes. I don’t know anyone who is held to this moral standard. #CricketAustralia

— Alan Jones (@AlanJones) March 29, 2018

Fair play Bancroft and Steve Smith taking it head on and fronting up. That was hard to watch and can’t imagine what they’re going through .People make mistakes but being able to own up and take responsibility takes guts.

— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) March 29, 2018

Time to give Steve Smith a break,I think.

— LaurieOakes (@LaurieOakes) March 29, 2018

Additional reporting: AAP