Steven Smith, David Warner Ready For Hostile Reception In South Africa: Steve Waugh

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh is confident that David Warner and Steven Smith will positively deal with the hostile reception in South Africa with open arms. Smith and Warner will travel to South Africa for the first time after the ball-tampering incident unfolded in 2018.

The Kangaroos will travel to the Proteas for a tour that consists of three T20Is and as many ODIs.

The 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, also known as the Sandpaper Gate scandal, was a cricket scandal surrounding the Australian national cricket team.

In March 2018, during the third Test match against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town, Cameron Bancroft was caught by television cameras trying to rough up one side of the ball with sandpaper to make it swing more in flight.

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Steve Waugh Confident Over Steven Smith And David Warner Accepting Hostile Reception:

“They will welcome it with open arms. There will be a few comments and that’s all part of the game. They will expect it. They got that in England it didn’t work. Look at Steve Smith in that first Test match at Edgbaston..the crowds were booing him constantly and he got 140 in each innings,” sport24.co.za quoted Waugh as saying.

It’s Only Natural: Steve Waugh On South Africa Fans

He asked the South African crowd to give them a hostile reception as this will motivate them. Although, he went to say that it should be done in good spirits.

“I would say to South African crowds to ‘go for it’ because it will motivate these players and they’ll score runs. It’s only natural, I just hope that it’s in good spirits and it doesn’t go too far,” he added.

Warner, Smith, and Bancroft were all involved in the infamous ball-tampering incident in the Cape Town Test and as a result, the trio was suspended by Cricket Australia (CA) for one year.

Both Smith and Warner have made staggering comebacks in international cricket. Also, they are bound to feature in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL)

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