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Smith suffered from cramp during the later part of his career-best 141 when refused a runner during his team’s 22-run defeat in a high-scoring match. The defeat also knocked the hosts out of the competition.
“He asked me for a runner because he was cramping. The umpires were not particularly keen to give him one. I felt that at the end of a long game, after a long innings, you’re going to be tired,” said Strauss.
“Cramping to a certain extent is a preparation thing. To a certain extent, it’s a conditioning thing. I didn’t feel that he merited having a runner at that stage. I didn’t feel he was cramping that badly either. He was still able to run. That was my view,” said Strauss. “You just go with each situation as it comes,” said South African-born Strauss.
“I think the umpires were very uncomfortable with it as well. My personal view is that you shouldn’t get a runner for cramps.”
Smith, who did not last long after suffering from cramp as he fell in the 47h over, said there needed to be consistency in allowing runners. “I was cramping quite badly and I requested a runner. Andrew spoke with the umpires and turned it down. He felt that if you score a hundred, you’re going to be tired. From my perspective, it felt a touch inconsistent,” said Smith.
“I’m not going to sit here and say that he should have done this or that. The decision rests with the umpires as well. From my perspective, it’s just about putting it behind me now,” said Smith.
“The thing I’ve learned from this game is that the world’s round. It’s going to come back somewhere in the game, at some period of time in his captaincy. It’ll be interesting to see how he handles it again.”