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'Utterly pathetic': Anger over 'shameful' Steve Smith moment at World Cup

He was booed when he walked out to bat. He was booed when he reached 50. He was booed off the field after a gutsy 85 and he was booed when he came on to bowl.

The English crowds took their treatment of Steve Smith to new levels on Thursday as the Aussies were humiliated in their semi-final clash.

Smith and David Warner have copped some savage treatment throughout the World Cup, and it continued on Thursday.

However fans were left particularly incensed when crowds continued to boo Smith during his moments of triumph.

English fans booed Steve Smith off the field even after a classy knock of 85. (Photo by Nigel French/PA Images via Getty Images)
Steve Smith was booed off the field even after a classy knock. (Photo by Nigel French/PA Images via Getty Images)

In normal circumstances, a disliked player might be booed as they walk out to bat but respect is usually shown when they perform well.

Even some of the all-time villains of cricket have been applauded off the field after a brilliant innings, but such gestures weren’t afforded to Smith on Thursday.

Boos rang out around Edgbaston as the former Aussie captain reached his half-century, and they drowned out any applause he may have received when he walked off the field.

After a gusty knock of 85 when the chips were down for his side, the cricket world was outraged that fans would continue to boo Smith as he was leaving the field.

Earlier in the tournament, retired England spinner Graeme Swann told ESPN Cricinfo: “If you want to boo, and you want to be boorish and yobbish, don’t go to a sports match.

“If you’re going to turn up and boo, you shouldn’t be here and you’re a disgrace to the English game.”

England march into final

Australia will relinquish the World Cup for just the second time in two decades after their title defence came to a crashing end.

The Aussies were thoroughly outplayed at Edgbaston, beaten by eight wickets and completely blown off the park as England booked a date with New Zealand in Sunday's decider.

All out for just 223 batting first at Edgbaston, Australia watched on as Jason Roy helped blast England to victory in just 32.1 overs.

England captain Eoin Morgan described it as one of the team's most complete performances in four years, while Australian counterpart Aaron Finch admitted it was his team's worst of the tournament.

"That was really disappointing how it ended, especially to put up probably one of our worst performances overall for the tournament," Finch said.

"We were totally outplayed to be honest all throughout the day."

with AAP