Steve Smith says sorry to nine-year-old boy who had to be consoled over cricket scandal

'Turning on the waterworks'? Fans had questioned the sincerity of an apology given by disgraced cricket captain Steve Smith
AFP/Getty Images
Eleanor Rose30 March 2018

Disgraced Australian cricket captain Steve Smith has said sorry to a nine-year-old fan who was distraught to see his hero embroiled in the ball tampering scandal.

Deborah Knight, a newsreader for Australia's Nine News, said she was "surprised and humbled" when the sports star apologised to her son Darcy after hearing he had to be consoled for 20 minutes over the press conference he gave about the saga.

"Could you please apologise personally to your son from me. Sorry that I made him upset also," said the apology from Mr Smith, sent by direct message.

Ms Knight wrote back: "Thanks you so much for making contact Steve. My son wants you to know he admires you even more than he did."

Happier times: Steve Smith and David Warner celebrating on day five of the Third Test match during the 2017-18 Ashes
Getty Images

Sharing a screenshot of the exchange on Twitter, Ms Knight tweeted: "Surprised and humbled that @stevesmith49 has taken time to contact my son directly to personally apologise for making him so upset.

"He’s told Darcy that he’s glad he his support."

Mr Smith has been banned along with batsman David Warner, 31, and Cameron Bancroft, 25, by Cricket Australia after it emerged ball tampering took place in the third Test against South Africa.

The 28-year-old sportsman was forced to make a grovelling apology on Thursday for his part in the Australia cricket ball tampering scandal.

He cried as he apologised profusely at a press conference, telling reporters that “good people make mistakes” and upsetting young fans including Darcy.

"It was a failure of my leadership," he told the news conference in Sydney.

Some sports fans accused Mr Smith of being "insincere and turning on the water works".

Steve Smith speaks tearfully about his 'failure of leadership'
Sky News

Mr Smith and Mr Warner have been slapped with year-long suspensions from international cricket.

Mr Smith and Mr Bancroft have also been banned from captaining Australia for at least the next two years, while Warner will not be considered for any team leadership positions in the future.

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