'Desperately sorry for Smith': Arthur backs Aussie to come back stronger

Former Australia coach Mickey Arthur said he expected Steve Smith to recover from the ball-tampering scandal which has left him with a lengthy ban -- but added that he wasn't so sure about co-conspirator David Warner.

Arthur, now coach of Pakistan, also told AFP that behaviour had sunk to "abysmal" levels in world cricket and needed rapid improvement, after a series of flare-ups in recent months.

Smith and Warner, Australia's captain and vice-captain, were banned for 12 months for a ball-tampering incident in South Africa also involving Cameron Bancroft, who was suspended for nine months.

It has been a dramatic fall for Smith, 28, who was being compared with the legendary Donald Bradman just a few months ago but who broke down in tears during an apology yesterday.

"I feel desperately sorry for Smith. I know he eats, sleeps and drinks cricket," said Arthur.

"He loves cricket and everything he did. He loved the job, he was passionate about the job. I think he was a very good leader and an unbelievable cricketer."
"Davey Warner, I am not a hundred percent sure."
- 'Above everybody else' -
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"I think that they felt they are almost above everybody else so that's been disappointing because they are a good enough cricket team, they are skilled enough cricketers to win games without resorting to the kind of tactics they have."
He added: "I am disappointed for the knock that Australian cricket is taking at the moment and world cricket in general, so it's a disappointing and sad time for world cricket."
"I think this is a reality check for them and hopefully it does Australian cricket some good and they rebound back from it, because the cricket world needs Australia fit and firing because they are a hell of a good team when they are."
- Broken window, scuffles -
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