David and Warner plays professionally despite heckling from crowd
Australian batsmen David Warner and Steve Smith ignored the negativity of the crowd as their team played against Afghanistan last Saturday and won by 7 wickets.
Left-handed batsman Warner top-scored with 89 as the team reached their target with more than 50 overs left to spare. Despite the scores, Warner and Smith still went under heckling from the crowd because of their 2018 suspension because of previous sandpaper gate scandal.
The sandpaper gate scandal of both players involved said that they plotted to use sandpaper to change the condition of the ball during a Test match in South Africa. Due to this, two fans even wore sandpaper as costume in their match against Afghanistan.
Bowler Adam Zampa said that the team had prepared for heckling in the ICC World Cup tournament due to this controversy.
“We have spoken a bit how we are going to handle that situation. Obviously, we copped it in the warm-up game against England, too,” said Zampa about the negative booing they received in previous practice match against home nation. “But I think we are expecting it. And to be fair, I think everyone’s handling it really well.”
“We spoke about it during our camp in Brisbane, about how we are going to react to it and how we are going to handle it and we haven’t spoken about it since,” stated Zampa. “I think we expected that we were going to cop it and I think all of us, to our credit, are just getting on with the job. You heard the boos today when Smithy went out there.”
The leg-spin bowler and right-handed batsman also mentioned that he is proud of the way Smith and Warner handles the negativity they receive from the crowd. He added that the team doesn’t really notice it once the game has started.
“Call it what you want, disrespectful, or just a part of the game. Either way I think the way that us as players are handling it has been great. If you let it get to you, I suppose that is when something will happen,” Zampa continued.
All-rounder Marcus Stoinis said that Smith and Warner are both professionals for ignoring the heckling they receive, especially since it is out of their control.
“They’re professionals. They don’t need any more motivation and they will just go about their business,” Stoinis added.
Australia will play against West Indies on Thursday at Trent Bridge.
