Angry fans say Steve Smith will always be known as a cheater as the fallout of his removal as captain of Australia over ball tampering starts.
The disgraced batsman will no longer lead the Australians in Cape Town during the rest of the third Test against South Africa.
Cricket Australia said ahead of play on Sunday that Smith and vice-captain David Warner had agreed to ‘stand down’.
The disgraced captain Steve Smith (pictured right) will no longer lead the Australians in Cape Town during the rest of the third Test against South Africa
But cricket fans around the world have been commenting about the scandal with one comparing him to Dean from Married At First Sight.
Adam Cosgrove said: ‘Steve Smith = Dean from MAFS. Everyone calling for his head, but who can replace him and provide equal value?’
Jim Maxwell, the voice of cricket on the ABC, broke down on air while talking about the scandal on Sunday.
Angry fans say Steve Smith will always be known as a cheater as the fallout of his removal as captain of Australia over ball tampering starts
Cricket fans around the world have been commenting about the scandal with one comparing him to Dean from Married At First Sight.
The news has rocked fans all around the world. Yogesh, from London, added: ‘To resign with humility is better than to be removed unceremoniously
‘I do not remember ever being as disappointed in an Australian team as I feel at the moment.
‘It was so blatant and so stupid, naive, immature, I could go on.’
His voice breaks as then continues to say ‘it was hugely disappointing’.
He then describes a Pat Cummins bouncer before admitting he was ‘getting a bit emotional’ and apologising.
Former England captain and Maxwell’s colleague Michael Vaughan has been extremely critical of Smith and the Australian team.
Colin James tweeted: ‘We are all going to be labeled as cheaters for the foreseeable future. Thanks for that Steve Smith. Good job. Genius.’
He said: ‘Exactly what this has done to a great cricketing nation. It’s brought my colleague Jim Maxwell to tears on air.
‘No one loves cricket and Aussie cricket more than him. All the GREAT Aussie teams he has commentated on who didn’t need to CHEAT and now this lot.’
Questions have been raised about the captain’s long-term future after the third Test.
It has also been suggested that Australia should declare their second innings and hand the match to South Africa – with the team trailing by more than 350 runs.
But Smith has been branded as a cheater and will always be remembered as one rather than a cricketer with 23 Test hundreds and an average of 62.5.
The cheating scandal has left many fans and people within the cricketing community shattered and upset
Colin James tweeted: ‘We are all going to be labeled as cheaters for the foreseeable future. Thanks for that Steve Smith. Good job. Genius.’
Ronnie Herr added: ‘The stigma of cheating will remain with Steve Smith for the rest of his life, what a pity that such a talented player needed to resort to cheating, all his previous successes are now forgotten and he will carry the label of cheater forever.’
The news has rocked fans all around the world. Yogesh, from London, added: ‘To resign with humility is better than to be removed unceremoniously.
‘Steve Smith was wrong footed twice on the same day. He is a great batsmen, but cricket is a gentleman’s game and needs to be played in that spirit.’
Cricket Australia said ahead of play on Sunday that Smith and vice-captain David Warner had agreed to ‘stand down’