Sport often welcomes back a bad boy turned good but some offences lie so far beyond the pale a return is almost impossible despite protestations
Steve Smith and David Warner were booed during Australia’s warm-up fixtures against West Indies and England in Southampton. The Aussies won both matches, and Smith got runs in both, so perhaps they won’t care about a phenomenon that seems likely to continue throughout the World Cup, even if they get to the final on 14 July.
According to Smith, who spoke after taking a ton off England’s bowlers at the Hampshire Bowl on Saturday, the chants of “Cheat! Cheat! Cheat!” are like “water off a duck’s back – it doesn’t bother me”. But it should, because it is an expression of a wholly justifiable revulsion that cannot be wiped away by a few months in enforced exile from the game, followed by a smooth reinstatement in time for the big one.
Written by Richard Williams
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/may/27/lance-armstrong-redemption-mouth-shut-cycling-cricket under the title “Lance Armstrong should keep his mouth shut if he is serious about redemption | Richard Williams”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
