Steve Smith’s captaincy ban expires, opening door for batsman to lead Australia again

Smith was involved in the notorious ball-tampering scandal of March 2018

Steve Smith is eligible to captain Australia again, with his two-year ban having come to end.

Following the ball-tampering scandal of March 2018, Cricket Australia handed then-skipper Smith a 12-month suspension from domestic and international cricket, adding that he would not be considered for leadership roles for another year after that.

The 30-year-old batsman, who starred in last summer’s Ashes series in England, says he has been “trying to stay physically fit and mentally fresh” amid the current sporting lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

While he had been due to captain Rajasthan Royals in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), the start of which has been postponed until 15 April, Smith said it is “not looking likely at the moment” that the competition will go ahead.

He told Channel Nine’s Sports Sunday: “I was supposed to be heading off I think today, from New Zealand to the IPL, so obviously that’s not happening.

“I think the country’s basically shut its borders until 15 April. [The league starting] is obviously not looking likely at the moment. I think there might be some meetings over the next couple of days to discuss what the go is with it all.

“But just trying to stay physically fit and mentally fresh and if it goes ahead at some point, then great. If not, then there’s plenty going on in the world at the moment. Just play it day by day.”

PA