Aussie Legend SHAMES England's 'Pork Chops'! What He Said Will Stun You!

Former Aussie coach Darren Lehmann has come out swinging, not at a cricket ball, but at the English fans giving Steve Smith a hard time. You know, the kind of hard time that echoes from the stands long after the last wicket falls. Lehmann, understandably, wants the relentless jeering to stop. It's a plea for closure, a call for perspective amidst the never-ending roar of the crowd.

Aussie Legend SHAMES England's 'Pork Chops'! What ...

Lehmann's comments are a direct response to the persistent "abuse," as he calls it, hurled at Smith. This stems, of course, from the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa – Sandpaper-gate, if you will. Smith, remember, copped a year-long ban and lost the captaincy. Lehmann, while cleared of any direct involvement, resigned as coach amidst the fallout. It was a mess, plain and simple.

“The abuse you get is daily,” Lehmann said, painting a picture of constant reminders, constant negativity. "It is unbelievable." He's not wrong. Since returning to international cricket, particularly during the 2019 Ashes series at Edgbaston, Smith has been a magnet for boos and taunts. English fans, seemingly, haven't forgotten, and haven't forgiven. They're not shy about referencing his tearful press conference back in 2018 either.

Let’s be clear: what Smith, Warner, and Bancroft did was wrong. There's no sugarcoating that. But is this unending barrage of negativity really helping anyone? Lehmann seems to think not. "We did the wrong thing, accept it and move on," he implored, making a case for some much-needed perspective. "You try to move on the best you can. You get reminded every day and that is part and parcel." The part and parcel bit is the key, I think. Smith knows he screwed up, he’s paid the price. Isn't it time to let him, and everyone else, move on?

Lehmann, to his credit, also praised Smith's resilience. "Steve Smith can hold his head high with how he handles everything," he stated. And he's right. Smith hasn’t crumbled under the pressure; he’s continued to perform. He keeps showing up. That says something, doesn't it? Then Lehmann directly addressed the Barmy Army, England's notoriously vocal supporters group: "The Barmy Army should be better than that. Most of them are and are very supportive of what goes on in the game." He acknowledges it's not everyone, but the implication is clear: some "pork chops" need to chill out.

Ultimately, Lehmann's plea is for a bit of grace, a bit of understanding, and maybe, just maybe, a bit of closure. Whether the English fans are willing to grant that remains to be seen. But you can't fault the man for trying, can you?