(Reuters) – Three years after he left ignorant as Australia’s captain in the wake of the ball tampering scandal, Steve Smith has said he is eager and ready to lead the national side again should an opportunity come his way.
Smith, one of the world’s top contemporary batsmen, was suspended from international cricket for 12 months and banned from leadership roles for two years for his role in the “sand-gate paper” scandal in Cape Town in March, 2018 .
After Smith’s suspension, Tim Paine took over the Australian test side while Aaron Finch captained the white-ball formats.
“Certainly, I’ve had a lot of time to think about it and I guess now that I’ve reached a point where I’d be anxious if the opportunity arose again,” Smith told News Corp.
“If that was what Cricket Australia wanted and what was best for the team at the time, then it’s certainly something I would be interested in now.”
The scandal centered on Smith, his deputy David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who were caught on camera trying to change the condition of the ball using sandpaper, and plunged Australian cricket into crisis.
Paine has since led the Australian test team with distinction, but with the wicket-keeper turning 37 by the time he captains the force in the Ashes against England at the end of 2021, a clear succession plan would be required.
Few players are better qualified to succeed Paine than the 31-year-old Smith but fast bowler Pat Cummins who has been nurtured in the past as Australia’s vice-captain.
“I’m always going to have to live with Cape Town regardless of whether I’m leading again or not. It’s always there, ”said Smith. “I’ve been through all of that now.
“Time continues to move on, and I have learned so much over the last few years about myself and grown as a human being. I feel I would be in a better place if the opportunity arose.
“If not, that’s fine too and we’ll support whoever is in charge the same way I’ve supported Tim and Finchy. I have not always felt that I wanted to do it again. That only comes in the last little bit. ”