'We saw you cry on TV Steve Smith': England fans classless act in Ashes 2023 proves their double standards

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Five years have passed by since the ball-tampering scandal also known as the 'Sandpapergate' rocked the cricket world. In a Test match against South Africa, the Australia team used sandpaper to tamper the red ball to their advantage as Steve Smith, David Warmer and Cameron Bancroft were banned for their roles.

The ugly scenes which followed saw the three players being booed in the stadium, heckled at the airport and face a public prosecution by cricket fans across the world. Steve Smith, the then captain of the Australia team, faced the press and broke into tears for the guilt and trauma of being banned from the game he lives and breathes for.

The world has moved on since then. Steve Smith made a cracking return and piled up 774 runs in just seven innings at an average of 110.57 during the Ashes 2019. He is still the second ranked Test batter in the world and entered the Ashes 2023 first Test on the back of a match-winning hundred at The Oval in London.

However, the English fans have just refused to move on and showed their hostile attitude for the star right-hand batter once again. Smith was once again welcomed with a boo when he walked out to bat at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Even while he was fielding, the fans took a shot at him by singing, "Cry on the telly, we saw you cry on the telly.”

To make things worse, England's Ollie Robinson, who was on the crease trying to extend his team's lead, had a wryly smile on his face.

The entire episode again highlighted the dual standards of English cricket and their fans who for long have worn the fake mask of being classy, elite, sophisticated, and acted as the sole flag bearers of the 'Spirit of cricket'.

A bunch of Indian fans were brought to tears during the India vs England Test held in 2022 at the same venue in Birmingham. "People calling us Curry C**ts and paki bas****s. We reported it to the stewards and showed them the culprits at least 10 times but no response and all we were told is to sit in our seats," an Indian fan tweeted back then.

In another incident from 2018, the Edgbaston crowd again showed their true 'class'. Virat Kohli scored 149 runs in the first innings but India lost the closely fought match by 31 runs after failing to chase 192. Kohli top-scored for the team with 51 runs but the English fans broke out chanting, "Where is your Virat Kohli gone", in front of the Indian team bus.

During the 2019 World Cup in England, English spectators started chanting "cheater, cheater" while Smith was fielding at the boundary rope. Kohli stepped in and signalled the fans to applaud his contemporary. There have been instances of England fans wearing crying Steve Smith masks.

The same crowd went berserk when a fired up Mohammed Siraj had a go at James Anderson and Ollie Robinson during India's 2021 tour. A whole bit of rant and 'Spirit of cricket' debate erupted from the UK media and English fans started after Deepti Sharma's run-out of Charlie Dean in Jhulan Goswami's final match in London in 2022.

The instances are many and it's time England and their fans understand that they own the sport of cricket and learn to respect visiting players, especially one of Smith's stature who raises the bar of Ashes - the oldest tournament in the 'gentlemen’s game’.