Star batsman Smith’s leadership ban ends
30 March, 2020
A two-year leadership ban slapped about Steve Smith after the ball-tampering scandal in Southern Africa ended Sunday, leaving the get better at batsman absolve to skipper Australia again.
The 30-year-old captained the team until he was suspended for 12 months over a brazen try to alter the ball with sandpaper under his watch during a Test in Cape Village in 2018.
Part of his punishment included a further year-long exile from any leadership purpose, which has now expired.
Co-conspirator and past vice-captain David Warner was banned from any leadership role for life, although both have successfully resumed their international careers.
There have been demands Smith to take back the Test captaincy from Tim Paine, nonetheless it remains unclear whether he wants to, with the 35-year-old seemingly intent in playing on.
Coach Justin Langer last year praised Paine’s leadership as “outstanding” and said Smith may well not prefer the “burden” of captaincy on top of batting pressures.
Aaron Finch is skipper of the 2020 and one-day clubs.
Smith told Channel Nine tv set on Sunday he was focused only on trying to remain physically and mentally suit through the coronavirus shutdown of Australian cricket.
He was supposed to be finding your way through a big-funds payday at the Indian Premier League, but the tournament has already been delayed until April 15 in response to the pandemic.
With India in a three-week lockdown in a bid to include a spread of the virus, Smith admitted the IPL appeared unlikely to go ahead.
“I believe the country’s basically shut its borders before 15th of April,” he said.
“It’s obviously not looking likely at the moment, I think there could possibly be some meetings more than the next couple of days to go over what the go has been it all.
“But only trying to stay toned and mentally refreshing,” he added. “If it goes forward at some point, then great. If not, then there’s lots going on in the world right now. Just play it daily.”
All cricket in Australia has been cancelled, with the team’s three-meet T20 series against Latest Zealand this month a casualty after just one game.
Australia has a Check tour to Bangladesh scheduled for June and a subsequent one-day campaign found in England, but both seem to be at risk.
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