Steve Smith Has Got Opportunity Now To Be Involved In Cricket As A Leader: Mark Taylor

Former Australian cricketer Mark Taylor believes that Steve Smith can heal the wounds of the ball-tampering saga with his appointment of Australia’s vice-captain in Test cricket.

Recently, Cricket Australia appointed Pat Cummins as the Test side’s new captain, and Smith was named his deputy. The move comes after Tim Paine apologetically stepped down from Australia’s Test captaincy role after the sexting scandal came out in the public domain.

Being appointed as the vice-captain of Australia, Smith has divided opinions amongst experts and fans in the country because of his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal.

Smith and his then deputy David Warner had to step down from their roles in the aftermath of the Cape Town Test against South Africa in 2018. Both the players were handed suspensions for at least a year, with opener Cameron Bancroft banned from playing for nine months. 

Don’t think Steve Smith would be too disappointed: Mark Taylor

Taylor, who has played 104 Test for Australia, feels that Smith won’t get to captain Australia again, but he may be able to come off from the Cape Town incident with the leadership role.

“He’d be foolish to think he’ll ever win everyone back again. I don’t think he’d be too disappointed, he may well have wanted to become captain again, but I don’t see Steve Smith at home bashing the desk,” Taylor told Sydney Morning Herald.

“He’s got an opportunity now to be involved in the game as a leader, albeit not as openly.

“I think if he does a lot of good things, which I’m sure he will do for Australian cricket, it will even help heal the wounds from Cape Town nearly four years ago,” the 57-year-old added.

Pat Cummins is already setting the ground rules: Mark Taylor

Taylor, who has captained Australia in 50 Test matches, is of the opinion that Cummins will lead Australia differently.

“I think he’s handling it the right way. This is going to be very different. I think all of us ex-captains, in a way we’ve had a similar type of plan – the captain runs the cricket team,” Taylor asserted. 

“Straight away Pat’s already setting the ground rules that this will be different, so all of us who have an opinion on how the Australian cricket team should be run have to think a little bit differently because this will be a changing of the guard,” he concluded.

Cummins’ first assignment as Australia’s Test captain will be the upcoming Ashes Test series at home against England, starting on December 8.

Also Read: He’s So Central To How I See My Captaincy Style – Pat Cummins Explains Why He Wanted Steve Smith As The Vice-Captain