'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.
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.
Devastating.
I hate booing at the best of times but I understand people feel differently.
But that moment? Surely that was a moment to choose to just applaud the bloke.— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) July 11, 2019
Crowd booing SMITH off is shameful
— M Ozbek (@m_ozbek_au) July 11, 2019
Booing Smith off after that innings... republic now. #CWC19
— Nic Negrepontis (@NicNegrepontis) July 11, 2019
Terrible way for Smith to depart! Great knock in the circumstances...If only those booing had even an ounce of the class that he has! #ShutUpBellends #ENGvsAUS #CWC19
— TheNorthernPie (@PieNorthern) July 11, 2019
English fans are bloody filth , by booing steve smith even when he playing classy knock is something worst by britishers , even i want england victory but i am appreciating fighting spirit of smith 👏 #AUSvENG #ENGvsAUS #ICCWorldCup2019 @PUNchayatix4 @jatinsapru @GautamGambhir
— Ankesh Gautian (@AnkeshS33138358) July 11, 2019
What a piece of fielding by @josbuttler. It would be nice if Edgbaston just applauded a good knock by Steve Smith though and forget the booing malarkey. Everyone needs to move on! #CWC19
— Ben (@nelsonben) July 11, 2019
To boo Steve Smith after that innings is just booing the spirit of cricket #CWC19 #AUSvENG
— Callum O'Connor (@C14OConnor) July 11, 2019
Fifty from Indomitable Steve smith. What a comeback from this guy as he was banned for one year from international cricket. It’s disappointing to see that peoples are booing him at stadium. Respect Him. #ENGvAUS
— Gautam 🇮🇳 (@wesome_gautam) July 11, 2019
Brilliant 50 by Smith. It’s time for the POMs to grow up and stop booing the best batsman in the world #CricketWorldCup2019
— John Blakemore (@BlakemoreCons) July 11, 2019
Had enough of the booing now. Cracking innings Steve Smith #AUSvENG
— David Slinger (@davidslinger) July 11, 2019
Steve Smith is desperately unlucky to be run out after a great innings. Still gets booed. 🤷🏼♂️It’s not like he mocks disabled children then drunkenly beats a man senseless in the street at 3am, getting charged for affray, fined and then never apologises.
— Ryan Mitchell (@MrRMitchell) July 11, 2019
It's utterly pathetic that Smith's getting booed.
— cricketingview (@cricketingview) July 11, 2019
@suryasmash999 that booing of Smith and Warner from those classless fans in england is still going on??? It’s so disgusting to watch both Warner and Smith get booed and getting nasty welcomes from the crowd.
— Jay Deshpande (@JayDeshpande8) July 11, 2019
Smith being booed by the English fans was disgraceful - spirit of the game has been tarnished !
— nomindtrader (@nomindtrader32) July 11, 2019
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