‘Steve Smith is a cricket tragic’
![Langer heaped praise on Smith [pic via getty]](https://cricfrenzy.com/public/storage/images/66d15e0ded92a1abb66cba530baed144_new_thumb.jpg)
Langer heaped praise on Smith [pic via getty]
|| Desk Report ||
Australia coach Justin Langer has heaped praise on former captain Steve Smith by labeling him as one of the best people in the game. He also spoke about the other two members of the disgraced trio: David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
The three Aussies were banned after admitting to tampering with the ball against South Africa in March. While Bancroft – who was the man in action – got barred for 9 months, instigator of the incident and then vice-captain, David Warner, and then captain Steve Smith were inflicted with yearlong prohibitions in international cricket.
However, Langer has always maintained praise for the trinity as he lauded the commitment of Steve Smith.
"Steve Smith is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in your life. He's also a complete cricket tragic," Langer said.
"He's a ripping young bloke. And what a player. As committed to batting and being great as anyone you'll ever meet
He also spoke about Cameron Bancroft, stating that he was not only the heartbeat of the Australian team but was a strong character that would do anything to play for his country.
"Cameron is as elite a professional as anyone I've ever met. He was the heartbeat of Western Australia and from all accounts, talking to Darren Lehmann, he was the heartbeat of the Australian team.
"He is that tough, he would literally cut his legs off to play cricket for Australia. He is that sort of character that you love to have around the place.
While David Warner garnered the most heat among the three for his instigation of the plan, Langer praised him for being a force to be reckoned with in all three formats.
"Davey's the marathon man of Australian cricket, people don't remember that. He'd played every single game of cricket. He'd play Test, One Day, T20, IPL, cricket all year round.
"He was being hailed as a great leader in that finally Australia was playing good T20."
Meanwhile, six months have already passed since the three men were sanctioned and Langer has confirmed that they would be welcomed back with open arms albeit it comes with a clause of the environment being “right”.
"If our environment's right and they're playing well, there's no reason they shouldn't be welcomed back in to help us win the World Cup and help us win the Ashes next summer," Langer said.
"If we can have an environment of great young leaders and welcome those guys back, we can be a real force and perhaps a team that's smiling a lot more than the team was before it happened."
