'Jeez, You’re A Bit Harsh On Me Aren’t You': Shane Warne Reveals His Interaction With Steve Smith

Australia's top batter Steve Smith had a one-to-one talk with Shane Warne after the country's highest wicket-taker wrote a column saying Smith should never captain the test side again following the infamous ball-tampering scandal of 2018.

“They won’t make Steve Smith captain, they can’t do that, I wouldn’t have thought they’ll do that. I don’t agree with him being vice-captain, I just don’t agree with that," Warne had told foxsports.com.au.

On the first day of Ashes, Warne once again touched on the captaincy topic with Mark Waugh and revealed that Smith contacted him to point his displeasure on his take. 

“I spoke to Steve Smith. He messaged me and said, ‘Jeez, you’re a bit harsh on me aren’t you’ and we talked it out. That’s what respect does," Warne revealed. 

“Just because someone doesn’t like your opinion doesn’t mean you have to get nasty and personal about it. Everyone’s allowed to have their opinion. Just because you don’t agree with it.

“I was happy Steve Smith contacted me because I consider him a friend. We’ve worked together at the Rajasthan Royals, I used to work with him when he was bowling, was he a leg-spinner a long-time ago? So we’ve got a respect for each other and it was nice of him to actually ring me and say, ‘Mate, why did you think that?’

“I told him my point of view and he said, ‘I understand it and I’m sure a lot of people have that point of view too.’

“But it doesn’t mean we don’t like each other, so we respect each other and I like Steve Smith, how could you not? He’s a great guy, he’s one of the best Test batsmen in the world, if not the best in the Test arena, so I think that’s how it should be.

“Someone shouldn’t be personally attacked for having an opinion and just because you don’t agree with it, whatever there is, there’s got to be respect.

“Like he said to me, he said ‘Mate, you’ve been in the game for 30-odd years, you’ve earned the right to have your opinion and I respect it, I just don’t agree with it. And that’s OK, I just think there’s been too much if you have a different opinion," Warne concluded. 

Also Read: Ashes 2021-22 - England vs Australia Schedule and Squads