The former Australian skipper, who has been sent back to home in between the tour of South Africa in ball-tampering outrage, during press conference said he “hopes in time he can earn back respect and forgiveness”.
Courtesy: YouTube
Smith added: “Cricket is the greatest sport in the world.
“It’s been my life and I hope it can be again.
“I’m sorry and I’m absolutely devastated.”
Smith, who has been penalized in ball tampering scandal along Vice-captain David Warner and opening batsman Cameron Bancroft, added that he “doesn’t blame anyone”.
“I want to make clear that as captain of the Australian cricket team, I want to take full responsibility. I made an error of judgement and I accept the consequences. It was a failure of leadership, my leadership,” Smith said.
“If any good can come of this and I can be a lesson to others, I hope I can be a force for change. I will regret this for the rest of my life. I’m absolutely gutted. I hope in time I can earn back respect and forgiveness. Cricket is the greatest game in the world. Its been my life and I hope it will be again.”
Smith, who was accompanied by his father Peter, said he was worried about the damage he had caused to his family.
“To see the way my old man’s been and my mum, it hurts,” he said.
“I want to say I’m sorry and the pain I’ve brought to Australia and the fans and the public, it’s devastating and I’m truly sorry.”
Smith also felt deep apology for letting down children who had looked to him as a role model.
“I’m deeply sorry. I love the game of cricket … I love entertaining young kids … I love kids wanting to play the great game of cricket that I love,” he said.
Bancroft and Warner have also apologized for their actions:
Warner, the principal plotter of the ball tampering line up, also apologized to fans and said he took responsibility for his part in a ball-tampering outrage that has stunned the cricketing world.
“Mistakes have been made which have damaged cricket,” he said on Instagram in breaking his silence on the incident in the third Test against South Africa last weekend.
Bancroft, who was caught on camera using a sticky tape to alter the condition of the ball during the Cape Town Test, said, “I want to say that I’m very sorry … I’m very disappointed and I regret my actions … It is something I will regret for the rest of my life.”
Bancroft admitted that he lied to the umpires about the sandpaper. “I lied. I lied about the sandpaper. I panicked in that situation and I’m very sorry … I feel like I’ve let everyone down in Australia.”
