Steve Smith accepts leadership failure for sandpaper gate
Internet Desk: In his first press conference since his tearful apology for his role in sandpaper gate, Steve Smith on Friday said, “I don’t want to know it” and walked away. That was Smith’s chance where he could have stopped something from happening. Talking to the media personnel at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Smith tried to indicate he wasn’t part of an original conversation, but said his failure to stop Sandpapergate in its tracks was his responsibility. “For me in the room, I walked past something and had the opportunity to stop it and I didn’t do it,” said Smith. “That was my leadership failure. Something happened out on the field and I had the opportunity to stop it at that point rather than say ‘I don’t want to know anything about it.’ “That was my failure and I’ve taken responsibility for that. “(I said) ‘I don’t want to know about it’ and walked away. That was my chance where I could have stopped something from happening. “That’s what I’ve learnt over the past nine months. Every decision you make can have a negative impact if things go pear-shaped. “Now it’s about learning. (Making) the right decisions more often than not.” Smith is adamant that sandpaper was never before taken onto the cricket field in his knowledge. “As far as I’m concerned and aware of, that was the first time it had happened,” he said. “I can’t judge what other teams around the world do. In any game you play, you want the ball to move, but obviously you want to do it in a legal way.” There has been heavy speculation of a rift between Smith and Warner since the ball-tampering incident. They were put on separate flights home from South Africa by Cricket Australia and so far have not trained together – despite both participating in sessions with Australia and NSW. But Smith indicated he would have no issue taking a field with Warner again. “Dave and I are fine.” Smith said he’d been to hell and back on an emotional roller coaster over the past few months and refused to divulge on whether he had ambitions to once again lead his country. “At the moment I’m pretty content with where I’m at. The next three months are about preparing as well as I can to be part of the World Cup and the Ashes,” he said. “It’s too early to say to be honest (about captaining again). I just want to get back playing … we’ll see what the future holds.” https://youtu.be/fP5FAVim-7k