England all-rounder Moeen Ali has appealed to the home crowd to not take things too far against David Warner and Steven Smith during the upcoming World Cup .
The Australian batsmen are returning after their one-year-bans for the ball-tampering episode last year. The World Cup marks their return to the international stage. This also means that they will be playing in England for the first time after the incident.
Give the fierce rivalry between the English and Aussies, both are expected to be on the radar of local fans in England.
Ali hopes that fans keep it all in good humour and not make it personal.
“I really hope they don’t get too much stick. I want them to enjoy the series,” Ali said to the Guardian.
“If you have to, keep it funny, not personal. We all make mistakes. We are human beings and we have feelings. I know deep down they are probably really good people. I just hope they get treated decently. I just want the cricket to be spoken about.”
Earlier, Australia coach Justin Langer had said Smith and Warner will require ‘sensitive monitoring’ over the next few months that includes the World Cup and Ashes in England.
“There’s not too many I’ve met in my life who like being booed or heckled or disliked so… they’re human beings,” Langer said.
