England fans at The Gabba for the second Ashes Test have been slammed by Australian broadcaster Gerard Whateley.
Whateley is a legend in Australia and he ripped into the Barmy Army – along with former player Monty Panesar – for their treatment of Aussie stand-in captain Steve Smith.
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Steve Smith is always subjected to taunts from the Barmy ArmyCredit: Getty
As Smith came out to bat on day two of the second Ashes Test, he was loudly booed by the England fans in Brisbane.
There were also chants of ‘We saw you cry on the telly’, which relates to Smith’s role in ‘Sandpaper Gate’.
The stand-in Test captain was one of three players who were banned from Test cricket for using sandpaper on a ball during a match.
It happened in 2018 during a Test match against South Africa, with Cameron Bancroft the man designated with roughing up the ball with sandpaper to try and get it to move more.
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Smith and vice-captain David Warner were heavily involved in the scheme and were banned for a year, with the former crying during a public apology.
It was cheating, and the England fans have never let him forget about it.
Former England star Monty Panesar and Smith also found themselves in a war of words ahead of the first Test.
Panesar decided to bring up ‘Sandpaper Gate’ prompting Smith to mention the spinner’s infamous Mastermind appearance.
But Panesar had the last laugh by claiming he made mistakes on a gameshow, and Smith made his on the cricket field.
It created a lively atmosphere in Perth when Smith came to the crease, and that continued in Brisbane, much to the disdain of Whateley.
Speaking on SEN Cricket as Smith came out, he said: “It’s the only regrettable part of this series. Their decision as a whole to boo Steve Smith is daft. It is so disappointing.
“They would do well to spread the word in their own camp that that’s not on.
“It’s old. It’s got nothing to do with them, and to pick that up from an imbecile like Monty Panesar is so disappointing.”
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Smith was publicly pictured in tears after he was punished for tampering with the ball
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Smith had the last laugh with Australia flyingCredit: GettyHow is the game going?
Smith scored 64 as England endured a terrible day two and trail by 44 runs.
They dropped five catches across the day, which is bad at any time, but in an Ashes series, it could prove to be crucial.
England were in a good position at 334 all out thanks to Joe Root‘s maiden Test century in Australia at the 30th attempt, but the bowling and fielding wasn’t up to scratch.
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Root’s first century in Australia could be in veinCredit: Getty
Jamie Smith dropped Travis Head early on off Jofra Archer.
Ben Duckett failed to hold on to a looped ball off Alex Carey, who is still at the crease.
Duckett then didn’t get to an edge from Josh Inglis before the worst of the lot as Michael Neser hit a ball straight to Brydon Carse, and he dropped it.
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Root was then a bit unlucky trying to take an edge near the end of the day, which Smith should have gone for.
Now, they are well behind the game and are staring a 2-0 deficit in the face, with Australia set to resume day three on 378-6.