Former England pacer Steve Harmison feels Australia's batting mainstay Steve Smith will always be remembered as a "cheat" for the infamous Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, irrespective of his incredible feats. Smith has been England's tormentor-in-chief in the ongoing Ashes series, which Australia have already retained after winning the fourth Test in Manchester on Sunday. Smith is having a fairytale Ashes series, already accumulating 671 runs, including a double century at a staggering average of 134.20.

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Steve Harmison labels Smith as a 'Cheat'

But that didn't stop Harmison from taking a dig at the former Australia skipper, who said Smith can never be forgiven for his ball-tampering act.   

"I don't think you can forgive him," Harmison was quoted as saying by London-based sports radio station 'talkSPORT'. 
 

"When you're known as a cheat - and he is, I'm not going to sugar-coat it, the three guys cheated - that's on your CV. You're marked and you take it to your grave. Whatever Steve Smith does, he'll always be remembered for what happened in South Africa," he added.
 

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Harmison, who represented England in 63 Tests including all five games during the 2005 epic Ashes series, said Smith and his partners-in-crime David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will have to live with "cheat" tag all their lives.

"I can't see anybody's opinion changing on Smith, Bancroft, or Warner. Because of what they've done, they've tarnished the game," he said.  

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Steve Smith lets his bat do the talking 

Steve Smith had continued from where he had left off in the first innings when he came into bat with Australia at 16/2 and then 24/3 in the second innings after England bowlers had made early inroads. Nonetheless, Steve Smith had other ideas as he held on to one end and played a counter-attacking knock. He scored a 92-ball 82 as he continues to have a dream run in this Ashes series. Steve Smith was caught by Ben Stokes off Jack Leach but his superb run helped Australia get to 186/6 after which they declared their innings.

England were set a target of 383 runs. Smith had scored a splendid 319-ball 211 in the first innings. The former Australian skipper was adjudged 'Man of the Match' for his brilliant knocks in both innings.

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