Steve Smith has returned to South Africa for the first time since the sandpaper gate unfolded under his leadership and expressed that the crowd has been lovely so far. While Smith admitted that the off the field experience has been lovely, Smith got a hostile reception on the field when a 16-year-old boy stunned him with a nasty bouncer.

The former Aussie skipper suffered a 12-month ban alongside David Warner while Cameron Bancroft suffered a nine-month ban. Meanwhile, the incident took place in Cape Town during the third Test during Australia’s tour to the Proteas in 2018 when the Aussies used some substance to change the shape of the ball. While everyone expected that it will be a replica of the hostile reception that they got in England, but Steve Smith expressed that so far the experience has been lovely. 

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“Just walking into the hotel in Sandton, initially I was like, ‘the last time I left here it wasn’t pretty’. It wasn’t the best time in my life. But I’ve moved on from that and learned a lot,” Smith said. “The people have been lovely. For me, it doesn’t bother me too much. Justin said something the other day about having a dress-rehearsal in England.

Meanwhile, the on-field reception was more hostile than that off the field. While most of the bowlers in the world struggle to beat Steve Smith with a good bouncer, a teenager managed to do so. Ahead of the T20I series-opener on Friday, the Australian team was facing some local net bowlers when Steve Smith was taken by surprise.

The 16-year-old banged in a short-pitch delivery which hurried Smith while he tried to play a pool shot. Smith was taken by surprise and acknowledged his fast bowling. 

Watch the video here: