b'SPORTS MODE Redemption of a championREDEMPTION OF A CHAMPIONBig Sports Breakfast host Terry Kennedy heralds the come back of Steve Smith.DONTYOULOVEAGREATREDEMPTIONUnder the International Cricket Councils rules,THE BEST SINCE BRADMANSTORY?SurelytheresnonegreaterthanSmithwouldhavereceivedaone-Testban,Many simply refuse to admit it, they find it too Stephen Smith, from hero to cheat, to outcastthats right, one Test!difficult, but Steve Smith is the second best and now returns as our cricketing saviour.Butthishadnowbecomeaninternationalplayer ever. SteveSmithsjourneyisoneofepicincident, everyone was outraged.Don Bradmans record will never be touched. proportions;hesimplyisthebestbatsmanEven the Prime Minister at the time MalcolmItshardtoimagineanyonecouldaverage currently walking the planet.Turnbull got involved, conveying his shocking99.94 in Test match cricket but The Don did. Have you ever seen anything like it? Smithsdisappointment and demanded further action.And remember he played on uncovered pitches return to the international stage was beyondSmith was found guilty of knowing about theand throughout the Bodyline era.extraordinaryandarguablythegreatestplan to alter the state of the ball, but doingBut Smith is the closest of all. And we are comebackinsportinghistory,frommaybenothing to stop it.talking about the best of all those wonderfully Australias most controversial character, someHe compounded his error, by lying in a pressgifted players youve seen from the past - from would say infamous character.conference after the days play. He then lied toMiller,theChappells,theWaughs,Border, the enquiry initially saying it wasnt sandpaperPonting, and thats just the Australians. One thing you cant argue against, Smith did destroy his reputation, bring shame to himself,but an adhesive tape with dirt stuck to theHeres a list of the best to prove Smiths lofty his team, his position and most damning thesticky side.position.Australiansportingfan.Infact,makeitallFor the record, his vice-captain Dave WarnerDon Bradman: 99.94av (52 Tests) normal Australians. was found guilty of hatching the initial planSteve Smith: 63.24av (66 Tests) and was also barred for twelve months. WhileGarfield Sobers: 57.78 (93 Tests) HAVE YOU FORGIVEN STEVE SMITH?Cameron Bancroft received nine months on theKumar Sangakkara: 57.40 (134 Tests) Surely you have forgiven Smith by now. orsidelines for actually performing the tamperingJacques Kallis: 55.37 (166 Tests) haveyou?Dontworry,eveninthissocialontheball.TheincidentalsoclaimedtheGreg Chappell: 53.87 (87 Tests) media era of competitive outrage, I was asposition of coach Darren Lehmann who wasntSachin Tendulkar: 53.78 (200 Tests) horrified as anyone. But come on, how longcharged or found guilty but fell on his sword.Brian Lara: 52.88 (131 Tests)can you hold a grudge for? ASHES RETURNFUTUREEven many old timers with no idea of socialThis was no low-key Test comeback fromAlongwithhistwelvemonthban,Cricket media, but with a love of cricket, believe SmithSteve Smith, in a far-away country againstAustralia hit him with a further twelve months should never be allowed back after cheating. a minnow nation. This was the opening offrom holding any position of leadership within the long and much anticipated Ashes seriesAustralian cricket. His twin centuries at Edgbaston in the Firstagainst arch rivals England. The Barmy Army AshesTestwereofepicproportions,andhad their Anti-Smith Sandpaper Songs allIf you subscribe to the theory of learning from even still people arent happy and many wouldready to go and boy did they roll them out atyourmistakes,Smithshouldbeallowedto rather see him doing hard time than piling onEdgbaston in First Test this August. Quicklyresume his position as Australias Captain in runs for his country. Australia was in a diabolical position of 8 forApril 2020 when the leadership ban expires.122, the Army was in full cry.During his year on the sidelines, he travelled SANDPAPER GATE the country, preaching mental health in schools Smith played and missed early in his innings,and taking questions from inquisitive kids. WhatmanypeopledontrealiseisStevebut soon he posted his fifty, and with only Smith wasnt banned for twelve months forthe tail at the other end he notched the mostSmith,willbeabetterleaderofmen balltampering.Hewasbarredforbringingremarkable of centuries. There was more tonowthaneverbefore.Thekindofleader thegameintodisrepute,breachingCricketcome. He then opened the shoulders to postwe can be proud of again, wholl play tough but Australias Code of Conduct. 144 and save Australia from itself. fair. Isnt that the Aussie way.URBANDRIVER29'