Manchester: South African captain Faf du Plessis insists Steve Smith and David Warner will ultimately be remembered for more than the tumultuous events of Cape Town which plunged cricket into chaos.
Smith and Warner have returned to the Australian fold at the World Cup, having served a 12-month ban for the roles they played in the ball-tampering scandal of 16 months ago.
Du Plessis was the rival captain when Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper in a bid to scuff a ball that had failed to provide reverse swing at a time when the Proteas were taking charge of the third Test.
Warner and Smith know they remain a work in progress in terms of regaining the respect of the cricketing world and Australian public, but their form with the bat is central to Australia's hopes of a sixth World Cup.
While the stigma of Cape Town will remain with the pair for some time, du Plessis said when their international careers were over, they would be remembered for their batting deeds.
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"Whether the game will remember them for that (ball-tampering scandal), I don't think so. I think their records and their performances will speak much louder than one incident as a once off," he said.
"I think they are probably better, not – I won't say, people – but if you can look at them now you can see as a team, obviously, the Australian culture looks like it's really good, so they have learnt from that and they have made themselves stronger for it and I think that's a good sign for anyone. All of us make mistakes. It is about how you learn and how you move forward."
Du Plessis sent Smith a text after the latter had been suspended, urging him to "remain strong" in the year ahead.
Smith and Warner will be remembered as two of Australia's batting greats. It was only 18 months ago – during the Ashes summer of 2017-18 – that Smith was being hailed as the best Australian batsman since Donald Bradman when the then Australian skipper led his side to a 4-0 series win.
At 30, Smith still has several years remainRead More – Source
Manchester: South African captain Faf du Plessis insists Steve Smith and David Warner will ultimately be remembered for more than the tumultuous events of Cape Town which plunged cricket into chaos.
Smith and Warner have returned to the Australian fold at the World Cup, having served a 12-month ban for the roles they played in the ball-tampering scandal of 16 months ago.
Du Plessis was the rival captain when Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper in a bid to scuff a ball that had failed to provide reverse swing at a time when the Proteas were taking charge of the third Test.
Warner and Smith know they remain a work in progress in terms of regaining the respect of the cricketing world and Australian public, but their form with the bat is central to Australia's hopes of a sixth World Cup.
While the stigma of Cape Town will remain with the pair for some time, du Plessis said when their international careers were over, they would be remembered for their batting deeds.
Advertisement
"Whether the game will remember them for that (ball-tampering scandal), I don't think so. I think their records and their performances will speak much louder than one incident as a once off," he said.
"I think they are probably better, not – I won't say, people – but if you can look at them now you can see as a team, obviously, the Australian culture looks like it's really good, so they have learnt from that and they have made themselves stronger for it and I think that's a good sign for anyone. All of us make mistakes. It is about how you learn and how you move forward."
Du Plessis sent Smith a text after the latter had been suspended, urging him to "remain strong" in the year ahead.
Smith and Warner will be remembered as two of Australia's batting greats. It was only 18 months ago – during the Ashes summer of 2017-18 – that Smith was being hailed as the best Australian batsman since Donald Bradman when the then Australian skipper led his side to a 4-0 series win.
At 30, Smith still has several years remainRead More – Source
