The first Test between England and Australia of the Ashes 2023 being played at the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham has seen its share of moments that can be said to be controversial.
Ollie Robinson giving a sendoff filled with expletives to Usman Khawaja ruffled enough feathers on the Australian side. But more salt was rubbed when the Edgbaston crowd heckled and mocked Australia vice-captain Steve Smith for his involvement in the ball-tampering saga in the 2018 Cape Town Test.
The crowd sang the ‘We saw you cry on the Telly’ song in unison.
The instance happened on day 4 of the first Test when Smith was fielding near the boundary line when the crowd started singing the song to mock the Aussie vice-captain, recalling the infamous Sandpaper gate in South Africa.
Steve Smith was the Australian captain in 2018 when during the Cape Town Test, Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera rubbing a piece of sandpaper on the ball. Later, the trio of Smith, David Warner, and Bancroft accepted that the act was pre-decided and was slapped with bans from international cricket.
All three addressed the issue in pressers with Smith and Warner breaking down in tears in front of journos.
When England batted in their second innings on Monday at Edgbaston, the boisterous English fans attempted to make fun of Smith for that incident.
The fans showed no mercy on the Aussie batter as they sang, “Steve we saw you cry on the telly,”.
Asked 281 to chase and win the Test, Australia finished day four on 107/3 with Steve Smith making only 6 runs. The visitors will need 174 more runs to win the match and go 1-0 up in the series.
