Three most controversial incidents involving Steve Smith

#2 The Sandpaper-gate

The ball-tampering scandal shocked the cricket fraternity

With the four-match series levelled at 1-1, Australia's tour of South Africa, 2018 was at a critical stage going into the third Test. At the lunch break on day three, the Proteas were cruising leading by over 100 runs and just one wicket down.

In a desperate attempt to turn things around, captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner made a malicious plot of tampering the ball post-lunch - a plan to get the ball to reverse.

The gullible youngster Cameron Bancroft was chosen to carry out tampering with a piece of yellow sandpaper. Sadly for him and the captain-vice captain duo, the TV cameras picked up Bancroft rubbing the ball with sandpaper.

The footage was played on TVs across the globe and also on the big screen. A panicked Bancroft tried hiding it in the front of his trousers and showed umpires an empty sunglass pouch. The shrewd cameramen captured the devious act and in no time social media and news channels were flooded with this news.

Later in the evening, Smith and Bancroft admitted everything in a press conference.

After a detailed investigation, Smith and Warner were found guilty and banned for 12 months. Bancroft too was banned for 9 months.

David Warner.

#3 Steve Smith mimicking Jack Leach

Jack Leach( left).

The third Test of Ashes 2019 was arguably the most enthralling Ashes encounter ever. Ben Stokes' magnum opus - 135* (219) led England through to a famous win. With just one wicket in hand and England needing over 70 runs, Stokes still cleared the fence with aplomb. England no.11 Jack Leach's ability to defend and leave the ball perhaps gave that extra belief to Stokes.

The determined Aussies came back strongly in the fourth Test, winning it and retaining the Ashes. Steve Smith weaved magic on the field with his awe-inspiring batting scoring 211 and 82.

The victory celebrations saw, Smith wearing spectacles reportedly mocking Jack Leach who has a tendency of wiping glasses in between deliveries. Enraged England fans took on to Twitter to express their anger.

Coach Justin Langer denied the allegations claiming that Smith was impersonating former Australian opener Chris Rogers who used to wear spectacles.