'I'm an idiot': Gus Worland issues apology for Steve Smith comment

Gus Worland is a fan favourite in Australian sporting circles, but he had an absolute shocker on Friday during the second Ashes Test.

In commentary for Triple M radio as Steve Smith was approaching a century on Friday, Worland made the cardinal commentary sin of jinxing the Australian captain.

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With Smith looking in complete control and entering the 90s, Worland predicted that co-commentator Dan Ginnane would be calling the batsman's century after he took over.

“Dan Ginnane’s gonna call Steve Smith’s century in the next 20 minutes,” Worland said as he left the microphone.

Ginnane, who was preparing to take over from Worland, could be heard in the background saying: “Oh, don’t jinx it."

Worland replied: “I’m not going to jinx it. Steve Smith is going to get his hundred and you’re going to call it”.

Alas, Smith was trapped lbw by James Anderson not long after, with a DRS referral failing to save the Aussie captain.

Smith was forced to head back to the pavilion on 93, and Worland was left with egg on his face.

“If this is out put Worland on the first plane back to Sydney,” Ginnane said during the DRS process.

Later in the day's play, Worland issued a grovelling apology.

“I’d like to apologise formally on national radio,” he said.

“I apologise for getting Steve Smith out. I’m a fool. I’m an idiot. And please forgive me Australia.”

Steve Smith shines after being handed captaincy again

Not everyone agrees with Smith being given the captaincy again after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, but the captaincy sure agrees with him.

Smith's 93 in Adelaide continued his astonishing run-scoring feats when Australia's Test captain.

Smith took the captaincy for the Adelaide Test when skipper Pat Cummins was ruled out by a Covid scare.

The prolific batsman strode to the crease amid a slight chorus of jeers on Thursday night which were rapidly drowned out by rousing cheers from the majority at Adelaide Oval.

Then, he proceeded to do what he does best when Test skipper: make runs.

Smith has registered 15 of his 28 Test tons as captain.

And his average when captain, 70.79, surpasses his career average of 61.65.

His average as captain is the second-highest of any Test leader in history, behind only Sir Donald Bradman who averaged a mind-blowing 101.52 when leading Australia in 24 Tests.

Bradman scored 14 tons in his 38 innings as skipper while Smith's 15 centuries have come from 61 knocks.

In the overall scheme of things, Australia has eight batsmen in the top 20 of captains ranked by Test batting average.

Behind Bradman and Smith come Greg Chappell who averaged 55.38 as skipper, Bob Simpson (54.07), Steve Waugh (52.31), Michael Clarke (51.92), Ricky Ponting (51.51) and Allan Border (50.95).

England went to stumps at 2-17 in reply to Australia's 9(dec)-473, needing a fighting effort to avoid going down 2-0 in the five-Test series.

with AAP

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