Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft legacy irreparable, says Steve Harmison
Monday 2 April 2018 13:49, UK
Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will be remembered as "cheats" no matter what they achieve, says Steve Harmison.
Cricket Australia chief executive, James Sutherland, admitted "cheats" was a fair way to describe the three Australia players involved in a ball-tampering scandal which has cost them their place in the team.
Smith and Warner were banned for 12 months for their roles in the tampering plan in the third Test against South Africa last week, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.
Former England bowler Harmison believes the players have suffered enough for their offence, but admits whatever the trio achieve when they return to the game will be irrelevant in restoring their legacies.
"Their reputations and their careers after this is punishment enough," Harmison told Sky Sports News.
"To be remembered when you're finished as a cheat - it doesn't matter that they're the world class players that they are.
"They could come back and play more Test matches than Ricky Ponting, score more hundreds, average better than Don Bradman, but they'll be remembered for what's happened. That's punishment enough."
Darren Lehmann, who will step down from his role as Australia head coach, said he fears for the mental health of the exiled Australian trio following the fallout from the events.
Smith repeatedly broke down in tears during a public apology on Thursday, while Bancroft said he had "let Australia down".
I worry, and a lot of people will judge, how David Warner's gone in the last six hours by just going on social media.
But Harmison is concerned by the response of Warner after the player issued an apology on social media.
"I worry, and a lot of people will judge, how David Warner's gone in the last six hours by just going on social media," he said.
"That would worry me more on where David Warner's mind is at this moment in time and the remorse that he's shown.
"It's disappointing but that's life. It's an Australian problem and nothing to do with England.
"But fingers crossed the mental health of these three players doesn't get affected and they can put it all behind them once their bans are done and they can come back because they'll never get away from what they are and what they've been described as in the last 48 hours."
