Steve Smith hit a stunner. Then the sandpaper jokes started
Playing for Welsh Fire in the Hundred overnight, Smith carved a sublime lofted square drive from the bowling of England seamer Josh Tongue that flew flat into the stands at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
The shot drew awed responses from a raucous crowd and broadcasters, but not so much from the Hundred's official social media accounts.
On Instagram, the competition posted a picture of a damaged white Kookaburra ball with the caption 'How did Steve Smith damage this ball?'
While the post allowed viewers to swipe to see Smith's shot off Tongue, the comments were inevitably spiced with replies of 'sandpaper' and 'same old Aussies, always cheating'.
Since the Hundred's inception, its social media accounts have tried to earn a reputation for edginess, as has become the custom among numerous sporting competitions in Australia and around the world.
But the Smith jibe is a reminder that this is the year of an Ashes bout, during which Australia's vice captain can expect more reminders of the infamous events in Cape Town back in 2018.
Smith's comeback summer in England in 2019 was one of the greatest Test series performances, with 774 runs in four Tests and twin hundreds at both the Edgbaston and Old Trafford matches – he missed Headingley with concussion after being struck on the back of the head by Jofra Archer at Lord's.
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Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Searching for something to read? Here are 10 new books
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Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Payne Haas tells why he chose Samoa over Australia. An Origin winner has taken a similar course
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The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
Payne Haas tells why he chose Samoa over Australia. An Origin winner has taken a similar course
Queensland Origin centre Rob Toia will prioritise his Tongan heritage over a potential Ashes tour berth as fellow Kangaroos defector Payne Haas declared Samoa now has the playing stocks to win next year's World Cup. Haas confirmed on Sunday his switch of allegiance to the rising Pacific nation, with high hopes that fellow Australian stars Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow do the same for this year's Pacific Championships. Tonga's October 26 clash with Samoa at Suncorp Stadium is predicted to draw one of the best Test attendances in decades on Australian soil and outsell the 33,196 who turned out for Australia's win over the Mate Ma'a in Brisbane last year. Toia's decision to represent his family's Tongan roots does, however, take another outside back option off the table for Australia's three-Test tour of the UK in October and November. Big names Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic loom as the Kangaroos' first-choice centre pairing for the first Ashes tour since 2003. However, both have been hampered by injury as South Sydney and Manly have struggled this season, and arguments could be made for them focusing on club commitments given their injury histories. Toia's rise as a rookie of the year contender and an eye-catching debut Origin series keeping Mitchell quiet had him in Kevin Walters' sights, particularly given Stephen Crichton (Samoa), Valentine Holmes (torn rotator cuff) and Campbell Graham are unavailable for Australia. Like Tabuai-Fidow, Brisbane's Kotoni Staggs is still considering whether he makes himself available for Australia or Tonga at season's end. Melbourne's Xavier Coates, Canterbury's Matt Burton and Jacob Kiraz, Parramatta's Zac Lomax and Josh Addo-Carr, and Roosters rugby convert Mark Nawaqanitawase loom as Australia's other leading three-quarter options.
