After the infamous sandpaper gate scandal, Steve Smith is eyeing a return to leading Australia in Test cricket. He along with David Warner was issued a 12-month ban from all forms of cricket by the ICC. Moreover, Smith was banned from international captaincy for two years. The ban got over in March last year and Smith announced his return back to international cricket with flying colours. Having scored the runs with the bat and proving himself, Smith is now eyeing return to captaincy.
Smith’s captaincy replacements, Tim Paine in Tests and Aaron Finch in limited-overs have won praise for lifting behavioural standards but are aged 36 and 34 respectively and nearing the end of their careers. Meanwhile, Smith is 31 and still has a lot of cricket left in him for his national side.
“I’ve certainly had a lot of time to think about it and I guess now I’ve got to a point where if the opportunity did come up again I would be keen,” he told News Corp in remarks published Tuesday.
Regardless of whether he wins back the captaincy, Steve Smith acknowledged the legacy of the cheating scandal would always taint his reputation.
Also Read: 3 Teams Who Can Target Steve Smith Ahead Of IPL 2021
I Am Always Going To Live With It: Steve Smith
“I’m always going to have to live with Cape Town regardless of whether I lead again or not. It’s always there. I’ve been through all that now. Time keeps moving forward, and I’ve learnt so much the last few years about myself and grown as a human being” Smith said.
Post the 2019 Ashes series where he scored 774 runs in just four Test at an average of 110.57, Smith did not have a very good outing in the recently concluded Test series against India which Australia conceded 2-1. He scored 313 runs in four matches, which is below par than his standards. He scored two centuries in the ODIs and flourished his game in the format as well.
He will be playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2021 and is in contention to lead the side after Shyeras Iyer was ruled out of the season with an injured shoulder.
Also Read: Delhi Capitals Reveals The Captain Between Shreyas Iyer And Steve Smith For IPL 2021
