STEVE SMITH BACK AS AUSTRALIA CAPTAIN?

Australian Star Batsman Steven Smith is synonyming ‘come back’ in style after his one year ban to play for Australia ended recently. He hit two tons in the first Test match of the Ashes series and led his team to a 251-run victory. While Internet is all love for his current phenomenal form, the apparent question that arises in connection with that is, ‘Will Smith be reinstalled as Captain next year?’

Cricket Australia Chairman Earl Eddings says chances are less. “It’s not even on our radar. We haven’t even thought about it or mentioned it at board meetings. We’re just glad that Smith, Warner and Bancroft are back. That’s been a focus, getting the boys back into the team. And getting them playing the right way, which they are. Tim is captaining really well. So that’s (appointing Smith back as captain) not our focus,” he was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Steven Smith and David Warner were banned by Cricket Australia from playing for the country for one year after they were found guilty of ball-tampering in Cape Town last year. Smith was handed an additional one year ban from captaining the side after which Aaron Finch and Tim Paine were made captains for Limited over and Test Cricket respectively.

The second match of the Ashes series between Australia and England is scheduled to begin from August 14 at Lord’s.