Australia PM Scott Morrison Blasts England Fans For Booing Steve Smith

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned English crowds for booing Steve Smith after he suffered a blow to the head during the second Ashes cricket Test at Lord’s. Smith had to be substituted out of the second Test due to delayed concussion symptoms. On day four of the Test, he had received a nasty blow to his neck.

While batting on 80, Smith was hit on his neck by a Jofra Archer thunderbolt. Smith fell on the ground straightaway as the team doctor came running in to check on him. Fortunately, Smith stood up and walked back to the dressing room without any help. He then bravely came out to bat again after the fall of a wicket.

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But to everyone’s surprise, a small portion of the crowd started booing Smith. In fact, the booing did not stop even after Smith was out for 92 and was receiving praise from all over for his bravery. The Australian fans have been criticising the England fans’ behaviour.

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The boos from the crowd were also condemned by commentators including Shane Warne, Michael Vaughan, Mark Taylor and Ian Healy, the latter labelling it ‘disgusting’. Now Scott Morrison has also joined the chorus.

“It was a total Ashes foul for the crowd at Lords to boo Steve Smith,” wrote Scott Morrison in a Facebook post on Monday.

“His performance on the pitch during his return to Test Match cricket in the UK demands nothing other than respect. The crowd could learn a thing or two from Steve Smith and I look forward to him answering his hecklers with bat and ball in hand to bring home the Ashes,” he added.

Smith, meanwhile, became the first player to be substituted for concussion in international cricket. Australia replaced him with Marnus Labuschagne. Labuschagne, nonetheless, justified the selection by scoring a fighting fifty to help Australia draw the second Ashes Test. Australia are leading the five-match series 1-0.

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