'Absolutely disgusting': Smith and Warner in ugly scenes in World Cup semi
The English crowd wasted no time in giving it to Steve Smith and David Warner during Australia’s World Cup semi-final against the host nation.
Smith and Warner, who have attracted boos throughout the tournament for their involvement in the ‘Sandpaper-gate’ scandal last year, came together in just the second over of the first innings.
Australian captain Aaron Finch spent Australia’s only review on an LBW decision that pitched outside the line, but came back to hit the bails of middle stump.
Smith was then loudly booed as he made his way to the middle.
Warner and Smith’s partnership didn’t last much longer, with Warner caught behind off the bowling of Chris Woakes in the third over.
Unsurprisingly, Warner was booed once again as he made his way back to the pavilion for just nine runs.
Australia were left in dire straights as Peter Handscombe came to the crease at 2-10, and they never recovered.
Fans took to social media to condemn the continued booing of Smith and Warner.
Absolutely disgusting the booing of Steve smith as he walks out to the pitch. Grow up. #CWC2019 #goaussies
— steff fekete (@stefffekete) July 11, 2019
Not fan of fans booing Warner or Smith , both are great batsman in this tournament, fans should be more respectful.not fan of Warner per say but he great batsman
— Gregory Taylor (@GregoryTaylor86) July 11, 2019
Geez the English are going to be really sick of booing by the end of the game. Booing when Warner walks on-booing when Finch walks off-booing when Smith walks on.
— Jon Blake (@jonblake3) July 11, 2019
English crowds still booing at Steve Smith... #NoClass#CWC19 #AUSvENG
— Daniel Apps (@daniel_apps) July 11, 2019
Morons in the crowd booing Smith. Not too bright#ENGvAUS
— Harvey (@mertomss) July 11, 2019
Kohli says booing 'not acceptable'
India captain Virat Kohli insisted it was "not acceptable" for his side's fans to boo Smith during the team's World Cup victory over Australia earlier in the tournament.
Both Smith and Warner have been on the receiving end of jeers from opposition fans at the World Cup following their return to the international arena after serving year-long bans for their respective roles during a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
After India completed a 36-run win over the reigning champions, Kohli told reporters he had apologised to Smith for the chants of "cheater" directed from the stands towards the former Australia captain.
Kohli in fact had tried to stop the taunts on the field by urging India supporters -- who dominated a capacity crowd at the Oval -- to clap, rather than boo Smith when the Australian was fielding on the boundary.
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