Eoin Morgan won’t try to stop England fans booing Steve Smith and David Warner, saying crowds don’t have to accept them just because their bans are finished.
England captain Eoin Morgan won’t copy Virat Kohli by telling crowds to respect David Warner and Steve Smith, saying it’s up to fans to decide whether they want to accept the pair again.
Fan behaviour is again in the spotlight after England opener Jonny Bairstow accused Australia of hypocrisy on the matter in a newspaper column.
Warner and Smith will on Tuesday play their first official match against England since the ball-tampering scandal and 12-month bans, ahead of five Ashes Tests in August and September.
They were jeered throughout a warm-up match against the World Cup hosts in Southampton last month, with Smith even booed as he reached three figures.
The pair has been generally well received over the past fortnight though, with India captain Kohli even telling his own fans to cheer the former Australian captain and vice-captain.
But Morgan will not follow suit, saying fans are within their rights to voice their opinions.
“You don’t know how sports fans are going to react. I think they are entitled to have their own view,” Morgan said.
“Just because punishment was handed out and the two guys served their punishment, doesn’t mean they are going to be accepted back into the cricket community straightaway with open arms.
“It will take time.”
Tuesday’s crowd is expected to go slightly easy on the Australia pair than what’s anticipated for the majority of the Ashes.
The World Cup clash is at Lord’s which generally hosts a more respectful crowd – particularly among the members.
The Barmy Army won’t be on hand either, given tickets weren’t sold directly to the group for the World Cup.
In a column for The Times, Bairstow noted former Australia coach Darren Lehmann had told crowds to “give it to” Stuart Broad in the 2013-14 Ashes in the “hope he cries” and “goes home”.
He claimed that was at odds with Justin Langer’s pre-tournament pleas for Smith and Warner to be treated as human beings by crowds.
“I’m sure it was not meant maliciously (by Lehmann in 2013) but for Australians then to say ‘do not boo these guys’ is interesting,” Bairstow wrote.
“It has to work both ways, it can’t just all be one way.”
Meanwhile Australia’s players remain undeterred by the situation, with Warner having hit two centuries and Smith averaging above 40.
“It hasn’t affected our boys one bit, I can honestly say that if anything, it’s given them a bit more motivation,” captain Aaron Finch said.
“Whatever the public do, you’re not going to change it, whether someone comes out and says do or don’t … It’s just going to happen regardless.”
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Morgan, why answer the question? Just say it has nothing to do with him.
Neel
Roar Guru
Absolutely right U. Two tough games ahead for England against two teams they haven’t beaten at World Cups in ages. They haven’t beaten India since 1992 (lost 2 WC games against India) and New Zealand since 1983 (lost 5 games against New Zealand). The Poms are definitely a huge chance of choking. Some big games coming up over the next week or two.
Pri Sekhon
Guest
Great way to motivate your opposition mate!
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
You also have to look at who's in charge of the team - Langer and Ponting. You couldn't ask for better support for Smith and Warner.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Meaningless drivel. Both those boys are answering with their bats; the best and only riposte. As for Eion; he has some serious concerns as we head for the semis; like not making them.
U
Roar Rookie
That’s exactly what happened tonight
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
All these articles about the booing by the two faced Australian media are a joke. The amount of character assasination they did on Kohli was a disgrace. Then they went after Rabada big time. Smith and Warner at least their is a reason to be booed, they did some cheating.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm not sure Hadlee switched off. To his great credit, he didn't publicly react but I've seen more than one interview where he referred to that abuse and it really p.....ed him off - and rightly so.
Paul
Roar Guru
that campaign by the Courier Mail was certainly worse than poor. The sad part was how many Bogans joined in and booed
Sideline Eye
Guest
AFL apologised for Goodes being booed. I suppose the English Cricket Board will do the same if the Barmy Army hurt Steven & Davey's feelings. I can recall Richard Hadlee being abused at the SCG while warming up near the fence at the SCG. Some sportsmen have the ability to switch off while others such as Eric Cantona react differently.
Sideline Eye
Guest
In that series Haddin failed to walk when he clearly edged the ball. When Broad toured here the following Ashes series, Courier Mail childishly referred to him as "English medium pacer"& encouraged fans to "give it to him". Yet when one of their beloved Broncos have an off field issue, they make excuses for him. Pot,Kettle.
Neel
Roar Guru
Fair point Bob.
anon
Roar Pro
We're a very precious country when it comes to booing.
Paul
Roar Guru
Sitting thousand of kms away, it's hard to get a feel for how much booing is actually happening, with the exception of that India game, where Kohli told them to shut up because he was dead set embarrassed ( as were a number of Indian supporters in this forum). I'm sure they're getting lots of positive messages from the guy at the other end when batting or from their team mates in the field, but I suspect when the day's over, they'll probably have to debrief, even if it's simply "how you going, mate"?
Neel
Roar Guru
Yeah true Paul. To an extent it would but seeing how Warner and Smith have performed since they have set foot in England, I just haven’t seen it effect them as much. It’s either that or those two players have amazing mental strength and application to perform so well, and at the same time, be able to block out all those negative elements. Smith played that really vital knock against the West’s Indies. Warner, seems like a new person ever since he returned.
Paul
Roar Guru
Neel, I don't care who you are, this sort of thing does get to a person - even just a little bit. The important thing is how they deal with it and the support they get from team mates etc, so they can reply in the best way possible - making runs and beating the Poms!!
Paul
Roar Guru
Bairstow's point is completely right. Broad should have walked in a Test in England, didn't and copped plenty for his troubles when he visited Australia next. These guys should expect plenty, though I'm at a complete loss to understand why crowds keep it up. After a while they simply sound silly.
Bobbo7
Guest
Fans are entitled to boo who they like. Smith and Warner are good enough and tough enough to deal with it. Not Morgan's problem. Teams in Australia cop it regularly - no big deal.
Neel
Roar Guru
Especially considering there’s a chance that they might choke at a World Cup in front of their home crowd.
Neel
Roar Guru
I don’t think it would effect Warner and Smith. They have performed when it has mattered since they have returned.