I love sport in general, as you may have gathered. Top level sport is a dream to get to watch live. I really enjoy a day at the Test, but so many people say to me, "that's really boring, why would you want to do that?" And I point them in the direction of Pakistan at Lord's in 2010, England in Centurion, earlier, in 2009 and several more. Both excellent matches with high level cricket played out over five days. England v SA in Centurion was a real snatch-a-draw-from-the-jaws-of-defeat game. Its exciting, dynamic, unpredictable and that's without even mentioning the days long drinking marathon you can achieve if you go to the ground.
I do the same with Golf - Miracle at Medinah. And with tennis - Federer-Nadal 2008 Wimbledon final and Isner-Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010.
But this is it for me. I fell so incredibly let down by Australia captain Steve Smith that I feel there's no point defending a sport against its 'boring' tag if, to make it more exciting, people are cheating. And wilfully, knowingly cheating at that.
The reason I picked the two tests that I did was because I know that various amounts of unsporting play went on. In the Pakistan test match at Lord's, two bowlers and the captain were embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal to bowl no balls in specific overs.
In SA, the England team were accused of ball-tampering but the complaint went no further.
In both situations, those present either admitted responsibility and were rightly prosecuted and sentenced or the complaint wasn't taken further so no wrongdoing was found.
In the case of Steve Smith, this is different. He knew that his bowler had planned on cheating to gain an advantage with a degrading ball. He knew they were planning on cheating and did nothing. Not only did he do nothing, but he initially suggested that he wouldn't step down from his role as Australian Captain (initially, because as I've been writing this a notification has come up telling me that he has stepped down. But for me the damage is done).
Yes, you've won the Ashes. Yes, you've been pivotal in an Aussie cricket revival that one can compare to the rugby revival in the same country. There will always be a place in cricketing history for Steve Smith - as a cheat and a liar.
There's no excuse. What makes it worse was that he seemed to suggest that he could carry on as captain after admitting cheating.
I'm looking forward to going to Edgbaston in August. I might go to Lord's later on in the year. I hope that I see no unsportsmanlike play, it just wouldn't be cricket.
