Steve Smith Will Be Always Remembered As Cheat, Says Steve Harmison

Steve Smith has managed to win over fans to some extent with his stunning batting display in the ongoing Ashes. The former Australia skipper’s popularity had taken a big dip after the ball-tampering scandal last year. In the wake of the scandal, Steve Smith along with Cameron Bancroft and David Warner had received lengthy bans from Cricket Australia.

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While Bancroft was banned for nine months, both Steve Smith and Warner were banned for a year each. Both Smith and Warner made their comeback to Tests with the ongoing Ashes. And while Warner has failed to do well with the bat, Smith has hit the ground running. Despite missing three innings of the series, Smith is the top-scorer of the series. In fact, he has already become the leading run-scorer in Tests this year in addition to reclaiming his top spot in the ICC Test rankings.

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In just 5 innings, Smith has scored a staggering 671 runs including two centuries and a double century. In the other two innings, he scored 92 and 82. No surprises then that the cricketing world has forgotten the ball-tampering scandal and is busy praising Smith. However, former England bowler Steve Harmison is in no mood to forget Smith’s offence.

The Ashes-winning pacer said that despite Smith’s heroics with the bat, he will be remembered as a cheat.

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“I don’t think you can forgive him,” Harmison said while speaking on talkSport, a London-based sports radio station. “I said this many, many times during the 12 months that Smith, Warner and Bancroft came out (of the side)… When you are known as a cheat, and he is, I’m not going to sugar coat it. He cheated, the three guys cheated, that’s on your CV. You take it to your grave.”

Smith, nonetheless, helped Australia win the fourth Ashes Test and retain the Ashes. Australia are now leading the Ashes 2-1 with one match remaining.