Smith, 28, has been concentrating on his wedding to Dani Willis, who has been his ‘complete and absolute rock’
Former Australia cricket captain Steve Smith is laying low and ‘bonding’ with his fiancée in New York in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal, his father has revealed.
Smith, 28, has been concentrating on his wedding to Dani Willis, who has been his ‘complete and absolute rock’, according to dad Peter.
During a press conference last month, Smith crumbled under intense criticism from former players, fans and even the prime minister after saying he was ‘deeply sorry’ for letting the country down by authorising the cheating plot.
Peter told The Daily Telegraph the scandal has been ‘tough mentally on him’ but he is now focusing on Dani.
‘She has been incredibly supportive and is his complete and absolute rock,’ he said.
‘It’s fair to say the wedding is still on – that’s their priority now.’
He added: ‘Steve is trying to relax away from Australia. He has to be away from things at the moment to get back to where he was, slowly and surely.’
Smith was spotted in New York earlier this month, unwinding in a bar in the city’s Chinatown precinct
During a press conference last month, Smith crumbled under intense criticism from former players, fans and even the prime minister
The couple, who have been together since 2011, are thought to have made detailed plans for their wedding
Peter also said cricket was not a priority for Smith, who is believed to be considering a move to England to play county cricket, but he is keeping up his fitness while ‘trying to draw a line under the past’.
Smith was spotted in New York earlier this month, unwinding in a bar in the city’s Chinatown precinct.
He was given a 12-month ban along with vice captain David Warner for his role in the ball-tampering affair.
The couple, who have been together since 2011, are thought to have made detailed plans for their wedding.
Smith proposed to Willis, a 27-year-old lawyer, in New York City just under a year ago
Smith proposed to Willis, a 27-year-old lawyer, in New York City just under a year ago.
The cricketer was set to earn up to $10 million this year in wages and multiple sponsorship until he allowed Cameron Bancroft to cheat in the third test against South Africa last month.
Smith and Warner were set to be Australia’s highest paid players in the lucrative Indian Premier League this year and would have earned $2.4million each for the Rajasthan Royals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively.