Mitchell Starc Raises Doubts Over Steven Smith's Honesty in Ball-tampering Scandal

Australia’s fast bowler Mitchell Starc raised a pertinent question over Steven Smith’s honesty in the ball-tampering aftermath. Former Aussie leader Smith revealed in his post-match conference that the leadership group was involved in the plan to alter the condition of the ball at Cape Town.

Australia’s leadership group also included fast bowlers in the form of Starc and Josh Hazlewood. However, both the speedster had denied their knowledge to be involved in the shocking plan.

Starc questions Steven Smith:

Thus, Starc has raise doubts over Smith’s press conference.

“Going back to what Sue said before about being up front and tackling a problem head on, that’s something the group who decided to go into a press conference didn’t really think about,” Starc said as reported by The Australian.

Starc added besieged ball-tamper Bancroft and Smith, who attended the Press conference after the scandal didn’t know about the repercussions.

The lanky fast bowler Mitchell Starc added the statement went on to tarnish the image of other players.

“They obviously didn’t see how big the reaction was going to be at that time and then went down the path of not telling the whole truth and then I guess involving another group, which ruined – well, not ruined – but affected other reputations,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Hazlewood also denied being involved in the ball tampering planning. He was also part of the so claimed leadership group of the Australian team.

Hazlewood said while talking to Fox Sports Back Page Live, “No, No, when asked about his role in the ball-tampering scandal. We obviously have ball maintenance people in the team, usually batsmen because they’re in the circle and the bowler field at fine leg, deep square – where ever it is. They just look after the ball from time to time. As soon as it stops swinging normal then it starts to reverse swing.”

Subsequently, Australian cricket was shaken up after the ball-tampering scandal. Smith and Warner were handed over a ban of one year each by Cricket Australia (CA) while Bancroft is serving a nine-month ban.

Australia will now aim to rebuild its cricket structure. The Aussies will lock horns with arch-rivals England in a five-match ODI series.