Australia star batsman Steve Smith apologised for letting his teammates down by showing dissent to an umpire’s decision during a Sheffield match between New South Wales and Western Australia, earlier this week.
He was handed a 25 per cent match fee as fine for the offence.
Speaking at the national team’s ‘values’ meeting which takes place at the start of every summer, the former skipper said: “I came in and apologised to the group yesterday for getting a code of conduct,” he said.
“I don’t think there was a great deal in it but I’ve copped it and I have to look at when I get out and the way I sort of conduct myself. I know lots of kids watch me play and watch all of us play and the way we conduct ourselves when we get out as well as when we’re batting.
“So we have to be very mindful of that and sometimes just bite the bullet and just conduct ourselves in, I guess, a better manner at times. Sometimes your emotions can get the better of you out on the field. We’re playing a game [where] everyone is trying to do their best and sometimes that happens.”
Steve Smith concedes he may need to control his aggression after being fined for 'dissent' following a recent Sheffield Shield dismissal. @luke_dufficy #9News pic.twitter.com/WHngDhriQ2
— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) November 15, 2019
The 30-year-old stressed that players should remain calm on field and could vent out frustrations inside the dressing room.
“When you get behind closed doors, go for your life, do what you need to do to let your frustrations out. Within reason – you probably don’t want to punch anything. Mitch Marsh can probably attest to that. We’re Australian players regardless of where we’re playing and what we’re doing. We sign up to values and in our contracts we’ve got a code of conduct there we have to play by. I got pinged and so be it. I felt I should apologise for that.”
Steve Smith is in terrific form in Tests and is the highest run-getter in 2019 with 774 runs in just seven innings. He’ll be next seen in action during Australia’s first Test against Pakistan at Brisbane on November 21.
