Steve Smith found himself once again in the middle of a controversy after he reportedly mocked England spinner Jack Leech after their win in Manchester. However, Australia head coach Justin Langer while talking to media has defended the whole incident.
Australia produced a thorough effort at the Old Trafford to go 2-1 up in the series coming from a defeat in the third Test. Steve Smith once again starred with the bat hitting a double century and a fifty to lead the batting unit. The bowlers also backed their batters to retain the Ashes urn.
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Post-match celebration videos of the Aussies went viral where Steve Smith can be seen mocking Leach. Steve Smith was seen wearing and rubbing a pair of glasses. Notably, Jack Leach did exactly the same during the last match when he shared a match-winning partnership with Ben Stokes.
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Chris Roger instead of Jack Leach
Justin Langer while speaking to the media has backed his players and criticised the media for making out things out of nowhere. He also said that Smith aimed it towards Chris Rogers and it is the media who fuelling things to make Smith a villain.
“Experience tells me that when you’re doing well, people will try and pick holes in you,” Langer told reporters on Tuesday.
“I know the truth. Chris Rogers is a great mate of the squad, that’s all it’s about. People can make up what they like about it, but that’s the truth,” he added.
England coach Trevor Bayliss also denied the make-up story of mocking Jack Leach. The English coach said that no one from both the camps have mentioned about it and the media is trying to create a fake story to satisfy themselves.
“Fake news, like Donald Trump, says,” said Bayliss.
“No one has mentioned it or spoken about it. It’s all talk from you guys (the media).”
Australia is currently leading 2-1 in the ongoing Ashes and can win their first Ashes in England since 2001 if they defeat England in the last Test match. The fifth and the final Test will start from 12 September at Oval ground in London.