Sydney
Smith and former vice-captain David Warner were handed year-long international bans for their role in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, which forced a review of Australia’s cricket culture. “Now the way the One-Day game is played, it’s almost like an extended T20. So I think T20 cricket is a good way to prepare and the IPL is one of the best tournaments around the world,” Smith said in his first press conference after the tearful breakdown following the return from SA.
While serving his ban, Smith has participated in several T20 competitions in a bid to get playing time. The IPL is scheduled to end by mid-May and it will be followed by the World Cup in England, starting May 30. The 29-year-old plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Although Smith stepped down from captaincy in thewake of the ball-tampering scandal, he continues to be a part of the franchise.
“I was playing in the Bangladesh League, but I don’t know what is happening there at the moment. After that, I have the Pakistan League and then the IPL, which I think is adequate preparation for the WC, if I’m selected,” said Smith. Asked about the nine months since the scandal, Smith stated it was a difficult period, but he has learnt to deal with it.
“I’ve had my ups and downs. There have been some dark days where I haven’t wanted to get out of bed. But I’ve had a close group of people around me to help me know that it’s OK,” Smith responded. “These ninth months have been a big learning curve for me, having a year out of the game has given me time to refresh mentally and get myself in a good headspace to go again,” he added.
‘Paine has been exceptional’
When Steve Smith was asked about his thoughts on the ongoing India-Australia series, the batsman said it hasn’t been easy to watch from the sidelines. “Particularly, when the boys haven’t played their best in a couple of games. It’s been hard watching and knowing that I can’t go out and help them. Tim Paine’s leadership has been exceptional. He has obviously been faced with difficult circumstances to begin with, but he has done a terrific job,” he added.
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