Former Aussie skipper Michael Clarke wants Steve Smith to be forgiven

The recently concluded Test match between South Africa and Australia would mostly be remembered for the horrendous act by the Australian cricketers, especially Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft. Subsequently, they have been slapped with fines on match-fees and demerit points. Moreover, they have been bashed, left right and center, by pundits and viewers across the globe.

Michael Clarke, the former Australian skipper, expressed his utter shock when the news broke out. Meanwhile, he has also contemplated coming out of retirement and returning to the national team, provided Steve Smith gets sacked from the role of leadership. However, recently, he has sympathized with the New South Wales-born cricketer in a recent interaction with the media.

“This can never, ever happen again”- Clarke

The shambolic incident has shaken and nation and their reputation of cricket have well and truly been tarnished. Steve stepped down as the skipper for the remainder of the Test and meanwhile, he also has been handed a one-match ban and fined 100 percent of his match fees. Nevertheless, Clarke feels that such incidents might not pan out ever in the future and wished for people to move ahead of the crime and gradually forgive Steve Smith.

“I do feel for Steve Smith. 100 percent he has made a major mistake and he and a lot of other people I think are going to have to suffer the consequences. That’s fair enough. But I think it’s important that we do over time forgive as well. When I woke up this morning a couple of things really stood in my mind — this can never happen again. I think that has to be Cricket Australia’s focus, this can never, ever happen again in this great game of cricket” Clarke was quoted as saying by Channel Seven.

Clarke has also mentioned ball-tampering as a strategy which has carried on from generation to generation. Moreover, he also mentioned that the strategy can’t be regarded as a massive crime. “It has gone on since the year dot. If the condition of the ball is changed, you get a five-run penalty and change the ball. That hardly sends the message that this is a heinous crime” he added.

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