Steve Smith ‘keen’ to captain Australia again, three years after ball tampering saga
Steve Smith has officially put his hand up to captain Australia again, if the selectors choose to pivot away from current skippers Tim Paine and Aaron Finch.
Paine has been leading Australia’s Test side since Smith was suspended after the ball tampering scandal back in 2018, while Finch has assumed leadership in Australia’s limited overs sides.
While Australia has experienced successes under both men, recent failures, namely Australia’s home Test series defeat to India, have resulted in calls for Smith to assume the role he left behind three years ago.
Smith made it clear that he still supports both Paine and Finch, but admitted that he would relish the opportunity to lead Australia once again.
“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.
“If it was what Cricket Australia wanted and it was what was best for the team at the time, it’s certainly something I would be interested in now, that’s for sure.
“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.
“I feel as though I’d be in a better place if the opportunity did come up. If it doesn’t, that’s fine as well and I’d support whoever is in charge the same way I’ve supported Tim and Finchy.”
Smith has been just as prolific with the bat under Paine’s leadership, but has been previously accused of undermining the current skipper.
In 2019, Smith was forced to defend himself after ex-Australian captain Ian Chappell claimed he was “white anting” Paine during Australia’s Test series against Pakistan.
