Coach Justin Langer says Australia’s Twenty20 against India was too early for Steve Smith to regain the captaincy, but the former skipper’s time may come in the future.
Smith’s 24-month leadership ban, imposed by Cricket Australia in the aftermath of the ball-tampering saga, expired in March.
However, Sunday night’s T20 at the SCG delivered confirmation the superstar batsman still has work to do if he is to ever lead his country again.
Smith scored 46 but his night otherwise didn’t get any better after the snub.
The right-hander was struck by a delivery from Deepak Chahar and he was involved in a horrible mix-up with Matthew Wade that led to the stand-in skipper’s dismissal on 58.
Wade and Smith were both ball-watching after the former chipped the ball to Virat Kohli, who dropped a juggling catch then had time to complete a simple run-out at the keeper’s end.
Wade was clearly far from impressed with the breakdown in communication, which came when Smith was on three.
Langer, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns and CA bigwigs had previously failed to deliver any concrete answers regarding where Smith sits in the captaincy conversation.
Aaron Finch’s glute injury, coupled with vice-captain Pat Cummins being rested for the entire T20 series, meant they needed to make a call in Sydney.
Former vice-captains Josh Hazlewood and Alex Carey were also out of the XI.
But Wade was given the nod ahead of Smith, who led Australia in 51 one-dayers, 34 Tests and eight T20s prior to being stripped of the captaincy.
“Of course, we talked about a number of things,” Langer told Fox Sports, when asked if Smith was considered.
“We’ve got so many options.
“Steve Smith has done a brilliant job in the past.
“There’s probably a bit of a process we need to go through until he becomes captain again. We’ll go through that.
“When the English crowd gave him a standing ovation at The Oval last year – talk about earning respect … he’s doing all the right things to show leadership without a title at the moment.”
Wade’s appointment as vice-captain in the T20 series opener suggested he was always in the box-seat to step up if Finch was forced to miss Sunday’s clash.
But former Test captain Mark Taylor was among those suggesting it was a golden opportunity to reinstate Smith, who recently led Rajasthan during the IPL.
“There’s no doubt mistakes were made two-and-a-half years ago now in Cape Town. There’s been penalties and they’ve been served,” Taylor told the Nine Network.
“Now we’ve got to move on. Steve Smith is still looked at by this side as a leader.
“He’s a senior player.”
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
Michael Atherton was caught cheating when he was caught on camera putting dirt on a cricket ball when captaining England against South Africa at Lord's in 1994. players now suck lollies, believing that the extra sugar in their saliva, when transferred to the ball, will help improve its lustre. Fielders place lip salve, sun cream, hair wax, vaseline or polish on their face or trousers in an effort to get a better shine on the ball. Then there is the bitting, scuffing on the ground or using a zip. How is this different than sandpaper?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Yes Warner's relentless harassment of de kock during his second innings partnership with Aiden Markram in 4th test was completely unacceptable.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I don't think many people want Smith back. He made have done his time, but he's tarnished his reputation permanently. I'd prefer he just play out the rest of his career just as a regular player.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Oops bad call Micko.. As you know I’m South African.. We have big time respect for Steve Waugh.. But I digress.. A real concern for me wasn’t the ball doctoring.. Geez that’s not a first in World Cricket… What was a first was the altercation in the stairwell between De Kock and Warner… Cmon…the rivalry between us has been fantastic.. Not English cricket and oh so polite…. Plenty said on the field but never off it… Have a few beers and move on.. But that series just got stupidly ugly culminating in sandpaper in the nether regions….. The altercation between Rabada and Smith with Rabada bumping him deliberately after dismissing him said it all… I’m not saying our players were innocent we seldom are… But it reinforces what Smith represented.. But hey choose him captain again.. Good for the opposition…
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Life ban is way too excessive- what's more, I think that there hasn't been a proper investigation to really find out whether these 3 were the only people involved. The investigation performed was explicitly told to only focus on the Cape Town Test and nothing before. To give an example, ask any bowler of repute and they will tell you they make it a point to know exactly what's happening to the ball and yet, the Aussie bowlers were totally unaware? Seriously? Mitchell Starc the next season was totally unable to get any sort of reverse swing anywhere and although he has had some good matches since then, he doesn't seem to be anywhere near as lethal in Test cricket as he was before sandpapergate. These are questions which remains unanswered...CA didn't want to ask those questions and that's their prerogative..but there's no way they could give life bans to anyone without those questions having to be asked.
Kalva
Roar Rookie
I don't think he should captain again...it's not about sandpaper but his whole approach whenever under pressure as a captain has been to throw people under the bus,have brainfades,etc Remember his first statements- "it was the leadership group" which pissed off the bowlers as it implied they were in on it. They may have been but that doesn't say much about his leadership. A real leader would have stepped up and said "its my fault, I resign as captain". As a batsman, he is superb under pressure-- as a captain, not so much.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Steve Waugh has a lot to answer for. He encouraged this hostile and confrontational attitude with relentless sledging and agro...or as he called it "mental disintegration". This has continued since then, and only now with Paine as Captain, and Warner demoted after the sandpaper scandal, has the team started changing their attitude.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
OK.. Then based on your thinking and that of Bernies that the Aussie captain is the 2nd.most important person in your country.. Then.. Surely.. He should never captain agsin.. Just asking.
Kalva
Roar Rookie
Think a lot of the toxicity had to do with Lehmann more than Smith. The comments by Nathan Lyon about wanting to end careers was more appropriate for an odious character like Marlon Samuels rather than from Lyon but was the sort of culture Lehmann created. Smith was a follower rather than a leader.
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Bernie, did you just post this to prove we sometimes disagree.....??? :silly: I agree that the ICC should rub out anyone for cheating, toughen up the laws for sure. Hand out tougher punishments. But our lads took sandpaper onto the field. Not "heat of the moment" stuff. For whats if worth I feel Warner and Bancroft should have been banned for life. Same as Amir and Asif. I feel the same for performance enhancing drug cheats. Like I have said, I am unsure about Smith's involvement, so keeping an open mind. But am happy for Aust to pick someone else to captain the team, and have him play.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Not now obviously
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I guess it’s fair to say that while Smith and co were punished more harshly then previous offenders, it was by their own board not by the ICC who only handed down a one or two test match suspension. However, let’s hope that if any player from any other country do what they did from here on in that their own board follow the example of ours. It will be interesting. I always thought that the year bans were over the top, but it’s water under the bridge for me, both in terms of what they did as well as what they copped – nobody can change the past. I think that what should happen is that the ICC themselves stiffen the penalties and next time it happens by either team it is they, the ICC that hand down 9 or 12 month bans.
Jero
Roar Rookie
He didn't exactly nick that ball to point either.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Fair enough ...
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
There have been a few times, but that's ok, you are allowed to be wrong occasionally..... :laughing: :laughing:
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Lord have mercy. Australian cricketers took sandpaper onto the field to alter the state of the ball. That's enough for me. To this day I'm still unsure how much of this Smith knew beforehand, but to diminish it by listing other blemishes (some real, some embellished) is not a free pass. Kane Williamson had his bowling action questioned and that is the same as taking sandpaper onto the field?? Give me a spell. Stop trying to rewrite history.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
What are you talking about Dexter, we haven't disagreed on too much that I can remember ... ?
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
The captain of the australian cricket team is the second most important job in the country after the pm, not the coach. If the coach can't get on with the captain, then it's the coach that needs to look for a new job.
U
Roar Rookie
Carey is definitely the keeper in waiting. If the Indians win this upcoming series, that might be the end of Paine
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
The coach has never selected the captain. Always been a board decision. I think we were more talking about the coach being a selector or not, which both Bernie and I agree on (something rare!!!). The coach needs to be approachable. And yes, I know that in the football codes the coach is the main selector as well, but cricket is such a unique game, there needs to be a distinction.