The Ashes: Shane Warne baffled by Steve Smith’s vice-captaincy role, backs Marsh for the post – Former Australian spinner Shane Warne has continued his criticism on Cricket Australia’s decision to appoint Steve Smith as vice-captain of the side. Smith was famously sacked as captain following the Sandpapergate in 2018, but returned to a leadership role, following Tim Paine’s resignation. The then-Australian captain was banned from playing international cricket for 12 months and not allowed to hold a leadership position for two years. However, fellow conspirator David Warner was banned for life from holding a leadership role.
The Ashes: Shane Warne baffled by Steve Smith’s vice captaincy role, backs Marsh for the post
Former Australian spinner Shane Warne has doubled down on his belief Steve Smith can never captain Australia again, slamming Cricket Australia for allowing the former skipper to return to a leadership position. The former captain is said to have turned a blind eye as teammate Cameron Bancroft took sandpaper onto Newlands and rubbed it against the ball in a Test against South Africa.
Upon being confirmed as Pat Cummins’ deputy, Steve Smith said he had “grown a great deal over the last three or four years” and characterised himself as a “more-rounded individual”.
However, Shane Warne believes that the former Australian captain’s second chance should have stopped at being allowed to return to the team. Speaking to foxsports.com.au., Australia’s leading wicket-taker in Tests said, “I don’t agree with him being vice-captain, I just don’t agree with that. I think how can a captain on his watch (allow) Sandpaper Gate (to) happen and a player like David Warner, who has got the best cricket captain, suddenly never be able to be a leader but the captain, where it happened on his watch, is allowed to become the vice-captain. It doesn’t make any sense to me whatsoever.”
The Ashes: Shane Warne baffled by Steve Smith’s vice captaincy role, backs Mitchell Marsh for the post
Warne added that while he considers Steve Smith as a friend, his appointment as vice-captain meant that Cricket Australia can all but throw the code of conduct out of the window. He said, “Now I’m for all people who make mistakes, and I made more than most, but there are some mistakes that you make, like in this situation, ‘yeah we’ll forgive you’, but I think your second chance is being able to play again because if you think about it, he allowed someone to put sandpaper down their pants and try to shine the ball. I mean, how do you do that under your watch as captain.”
Warne added, “I like Steve Smith, I’ve got nothing against him, I consider him a friend, but as far as a leadership position goes, I don’t see how they can possibly make that appointment. I was disappointed with Cricket Australia that they did. They may as well throw out the code of conduct out the window or rewrite it.”
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The Ashes: Shane Warne baffled by Steve Smith’s vice captaincy role, backs Mitchell Marsh for the post
Shane Warne believes Mitchell Marsh should have not just been included in the Ashes squad but handed the vice-captaincy over, Steve Smith. Marsh was overlooked for the Test series against England despite his heroics with the bat last month as Australia won its first T20 World Cup. Marsh has played 32 Tests since debuting in 2014 but hasn’t featured for Australia in the five-day format since 2019.
Warne told the Herald Sun, “I would have rather Mitch Marsh actually to be vice-captain and come back into the side, or Marnus Labuschagne, would have preferred that, time for a clean slate and just move on. But let’s hope it all works out.”
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