Twitter lashes out at Steve Smith for removing Rishabh Pant's guard at SCG on Day 5

India and Australia are up against each other on the final day of the third Test at SCG. Though hosts had put up a great show during their innings, they were seen extremely desperate in order to fetch their victory against India. It was during the same time an unsportsmanlike behaviour came on the table by ace batter Steve Smith. During the drinks break, he was caught scuffing the batsman’s guard purposely.

While Pant was flaunting his class show, Smith was caught on stumps camera scuffing the batsman’s guard. When Pant walked over the field again, he was seen marking his guard all over again. Smith’s unusual actions created a lot of stir on the social media world, and fans slammed him for his negative tactics. Though Smith’s face was not clearly visible in the video, fans could figure him out by his jersey no 49.

Some people even started comparing the incident with 2018 Cape Town’s sandpaper gate. It tarnished Smith’s image, and he was banned from the field of cricket for two years along with David Warner. In the same line, he also had to step down from his captaincy role. Fans got furious, and Smith had to bear all the backlash.

Twitter reacts after Steve Smith scuffed the batsman’s guard

Steve Smith is a Born Cheater #INDvAUS
pic.twitter.com/QDsrRYMclm

— Sumit Kadel (@SumitkadeI) January 11, 2021

NZ with 0 WC trophies are far better than these 5 WC winning cheater team. Shame on @cricketcomau & @stevesmith49 😠#AUSvIND #INDvAUS #Smith #Pant #Pujara #jaddu https://t.co/W9lC4cNnhu

— || PRATEEK || (@_PrattAdor_) January 11, 2021

Shoes can be used for many things. Removing an opponent’s batting guard mark too….
Not for taking sharp catches though…. #Smith #Pant #AusvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 11, 2021

Team india shud go thro rule book and report to authorities about Steve Smith playing cheat and scuffing guard mark of pant. @ajinkyarahane88 @imVkohli let's make issue out of it.

— durgesh kaushik (@durgeshkaushik) January 11, 2021

If #TimPaine and #RishabhPant continue to do the same, #TeamIndia will have a brighter chance in the game! #AUSvIND

— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) January 11, 2021

After looking at Smith erasing Pant’s batting Guard does he seriously deserve what Virat did for him in World Cup 2019. From outside they try to show their love for India but time to time they prove that they are Bloody Cheater Australians. @bhogleharsha @joybhattacharj

— Nitish Jangale (@jangale_nitish) January 11, 2021

@ICC should ban the cheat Steve Smith for atleast 5 test matches, he simply can't tamper the pitch , guard of Rishabh pant, that was mischief, foul play by senior player , or mentally unstable cheat on the ground

— durgesh kaushik (@durgeshkaushik) January 11, 2021

As per ICC rules Steven Smith likely to get a warning for doing shadow batting and trying to disturb Rishabh Pant's batting stance.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 11, 2021

#INDvAUS
Steve Smith removing footmarks of Rishabh Pant during drinks brake: pic.twitter.com/LhrmdTJZ07

— Ayush Saxena (@ayush__007_) January 11, 2021

Batsman makes a guard to which he strucks and Smith tried to create additional marks just to confuse Pant's guard

— Rohit Vikram (@RohitVikram9) January 11, 2021

I said it yesterday, I'll say it again, Cricket Australia is stooping to a new low. Shame.#INDvAUS #Smith #Pant https://t.co/deJ8oOklca

— Abhishek Anand (@Iamabhianand) January 11, 2021

While chasing the huge target on the final day, it was Rishabh Pant who came all guns blazing at the hosts. He smashed 97 runs against the stiff bowling set up of Australia. He was accompanied well enough by Cheteshwar Pujara, who added 77 runs from his bat. Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane was also expected to rise to the occasion, but he returned in no time after adding in just four runs. Rohit Sharma already added his 52 on day four of the Sydney Test.

Hanuma Vihari and Ravi Ashwin are currently on the crease and are looking adamant enough to give a great fightback to the Aussies. The series currently stands 1-1 at the moment, and the result of this Test can turn tables for the respective side.