Australia’s cricket hero Steve Smith fires back at claims he is ‘white anting’ captain Tim Paine and undermining his authority on the field
- Ian Chappell slammed Steve Smith during the second Test against Pakistan
- The cricket legend accused Smith of moving around fielders on Monday
- Chappell said moving field positions feels like the ‘white anting’ of the captain
- Smith responded to comments on Tuesday, claiming he is trying to ‘help’ Paine
Steve Smith has fired back at cricket legend Ian Chappell’s claims he is ‘white anting’ captain Tim Paine.
The 76-year-old accused Smith of undermining Paine’s authority by moving fieldsmen around during day four of Australia’s second Test against Pakistan on Monday.
Smith responded to Chappell’s claims on Tuesday and explained he was simply attempting to help the Australian captain.
Steve Smith has fired back at cricket legend Ian Chappell’s claims he is ‘white anting’ captain Tim Paine
‘I only try and help Tim as much as I can,’ Smith told 9News.
‘He’s doing a terrific job, but I give him suggestions and things like that.
‘I only want the team to do well. I’m certainly not undermining him.’
Smith, the former Australian captain, was sacked from his leadership role following the ball tampering scandal and replaced by Paine.
He served a one-year ban for the sandpaper saga before returning to international duties earlier this year.
Smith (pictured with wife Dani Willis) responded to Chappell’s allegations on Tuesday and explained he was simply attempting to ‘help’ the Australian captain. ‘I only try and help Tim as much as I can,’ Smith said
Speaking on Macquarie Sports Radio during the Test, Chappell said: ‘I tell you what I don’t like to see, Steve Smith is moving a few fieldsmen around.’
‘He did have a chat with Tim Paine, trying to talk Tim Paine into moving a fielder on the off-side, but I’m not sure Tim Paine moved him as far as Steve Smith wanted.
Pat Cummins (left), Tim Paine (centre) and Steve Smith (right) speak between overs during day four of the Second Test against Pakistan on Monday
‘Steve Smith started moving him, I hate to see that.’
Amid the accusations, Chappell then compared Smith’s movements to cricketers in the English squad.
‘England used to do it a bit, blokes other than the captain and I always felt it was white anting the captain,’ he said.
Australia wrapped the match on Monday, whitewashing Pakistan with an innings-and-48-run win.
Paine said: ‘I thought we played some really good cricket for all the series. Barring the fielding yesterday I thought all of our cricket was good.
‘We’re starting to get the contributions from our top order we have asked for for a little while.
‘And I thought our bowlers in both Test matches were excellent to create as many chances as they did.’
Chappell accused Smith of undermining Paine’s authority by moving fieldsmen around during day four of Australia’s second Test against Pakistan on Monday