Melbourne: Disgraced former Australian skipper Steve Smith has yet again put himself in the centre of criticism after the cricketer when he was used by a company for their advertisement campaign that leverages the nation’s ball-tampering shame for marketing purposes.
Smith has tied up with the local arm of Britain’s Vodafone Group in the advertising campaign. Vodafone Australia’s ‘Gutsy is calling’ commercial starts with a voice overlay of Smith’s tearful apology when he fronted the media upon his return home from South Africa before cutting to scenes of him playing for local club Sutherland and conducting a coaching clinic.
“Everything I dreamed of, everything I was a part of was just falling to pieces,” Smith says in the commercial. “I was in a pretty dark space. It was just about being upfront and honest and taking responsibility. I’ve certainly had some difficult days. But it’s OK to be vulnerable. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s about the way you respond to it that’s really important.” It concludes with Smith saying: “I want to come back better than I was.”
Local media reported Smith was donating his fee for the advertisement to a local charity for men’s mental health. The advertisement and Smith’s participation in it was quick to draw criticism from local media pundits and drew mixed responses on social media.
“Don’t use mental illness to try and flog off some phones,” 3AW radio host Justin Smith said on the Melbourne station. “Looking at this tacky rubbish, I wonder if he’s learnt anything at all.”
Vodafone Australia responded to criticism from one Twitter user, saying the company was supporting Smith “in his mission to spread awareness about mental health for young Australians.”
Smith barred
Dhaka: Bangladesh’s Cricket Board said Thursday it has barred former Australian captain Steve Smith from the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) following an objection raised by some franchises. Smith, serving a one-year ban from international cricket and Australia’s domestic Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League, had signed for Comilla Victorians to play in the next edition of the BPL starting January 5. “Some franchises raised objection about his participation. So we have to bar him from playing the BPL,” BCB chief Nizamuddin Chowdhury said.