Having started his career as a leg spinner and a tail-ender in international cricket, Steve Smith rode on his consistency to become the number one Test batsman in ICC Rankings. He made his debut against Pakistan in 2010 at the 'Mecca of Cricket' Lord's. It was a disastrous debut for the former Australian skipper as he scored 1 and 12 runs in successive innings, though he was decent with the bowl as he picked up three wickets in second innings while he did not get chance to ball in the first innings. He marked his name in international cricket in 2013 Ashes, where he scored his first Test century at Oval. Despite having an unorthodox batting stance, Smith suddenly started dominating Test cricket as he has the ability to play both fast and spin bowlers. The 2014-2015 series against India was the path-breaking series for the Aussie as he scored four centuries. It was in the same summer when he was appointed as Australia's 45th Test captain in place of injured Michael Clarke. Everything was going right for the right-handed batsman but suddenly life took a U-turn and he got involved in the ball-tampering scandal with his two Australia teammates David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. The scandal, which rocked the cricket world, happened during a Test match against South Africa. Smith and Warner are suspended for One year while the young fast bowler Bancroft is suspended for nine months.
Read MoreSmith said his off-stump stance helps him to leave the balls which are outside his line of sight.
The legendary fast bowler, who is also the bowling coach of Pakistan team was speaking in the context of his country not being able to win even one Test match since 1995.
Under Paine, Australia for the first time in 71 years lost a home Test series against India 1-2 in the 2018-19 bilateral contest. However, Smith and Warner were then in the midst of their ball-tampering suspension and the team was in a transition phase.
Smith is free to captain the national team again after his captaincy ban came to an end on Sunday. This would be of little significance however with no cricket coming up in Australia, or anywhere in the world, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cricket Australia had imposed a two-year captaincy ban on Steve Smith for his role in the ball-tampering scandal that took place in March 2018 in South Africa. The suspension ended on March 29 making him eligible for the post once again.
The two-year leadership ban on Steve Smith ended on Sunday, making him eligible for the captaincy of the national team.
Cricket Australia has not directed the players officially with its chief executive Kevin Roberts on Tuesday saying that players were individually contracted to their IPL teams and can make up their own minds to compete in the 2020 IPL or not.
Opener David Warner, who has played a lot of cricket with Smith was in shock and claimed the ball hit at the same place where late Australian cricket Phil Hughes got hit.
Steve Smith joked about playing slowly in the retro kits against New Zealand in the upcoming three-match ODI series.
Rahul has been a revelation for India in recent times since he took over the responsibility both as a wicketkeeper and as a middle-order batsman in the limited-overs format.
Legendary former Australian bowler Glenn McGrath has warned that it will not be easy for India to replicate last year's series win when they tour Australia in November.
Virat Kohli dropped to No.2 with 906 points to his name after a poor show with the bat in the first New Zealand Test at Basin Reserve.
Steve Smith will lead a side that consists of Jonny Bairstow, Liam Plunkett, Tom Banton and Mitchell Starc among others.
While Steve Smith saved a certain six, Faf du Plessis and David Miller combined to complete a stunning catch during the second T20I between South Africa and Australia.
The boos followed in after Smith managed to hit a four off Dale Steyn's delivery that had bounced twice on the pitch before hitting the willow.
The video of the delivery has gone viral over social media garnering over 20000 views ahead of Australia's three T20Is and ODIs against South Africa starting Friday.
Smith and David Warner were sacked from their posts as captain and vice-captain of the team in the fall out of the scandal that happened during Australia's Test series against South Africa
Neil Wagner was Steve Smith's tormentor in chief during the Australia series and now he will be looking to do the same with Virat Kohli in the upcoming two-match Test series.
Steve Smith and David Warner return to South Africa for the first time since the infamous 'sandpaper gate', which resulted in a one-year ban for the duo.
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh believes that the sledging by the Australian crowd will only motivate Steve Smith and David Warner.
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