London: England Sports Minister Nigel Adams has described the booing of Steve Smith by England fans as "distasteful" and has urged them to cheer and not jeer at the Australian batsman.
Smith, Cameron Bancroft and David Warner -- all involved in the Sandpaper Gate fiasco -- have been booed during their appearances in the first and second Ashes Test matches at Edgbaston and Lord's.
During the second Ashes Test, Smith had to leave the field after he was struck on the neck by a 92.4 mph delivery from England pacer Jofra Archer, which knocked him to the ground.
The 32-year-old returned to the crease 40 minutes later, before being dismissed for 92. While many fans offered him a standing ovation, an audible contingent booed at and jeered Smith both times, when he was withdrawn and when he returned.
"The vast majority of the Lord's crowd were on their feet applauding Steve Smith after his innings but a small amount of booing from a tiny element of the crowd has made the news," Adams was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.