Smith to embark on road to redemption

STEVE Smith has returned to Australia declaring he is ready to get back to business after coming to terms with his appalling error of judgment in Cape Town.

Smith took to Instagram yesterday revealing he had returned home after spending much of the past month overseas in the wake of the ball tampering saga that cost him the Australian captaincy and a 12-month ban from the game.

Posing with fiancee Dani Willis, Smith — who was seen at a bar in New York in the wake of his suspension — said he had been humbled by the support of wellwishers.

“It’s great to be back home in Australia,” Smith said in the post. “I have had some time away to come to terms with everything and now it’s time to get back into it.

“The amount of emails and letters I have received has been incredible and I have been extremely humbled by the enormous amount of support you have given me. I now have a lot to do to earn back your trust.”

Smith and David Warner — who was stripped of the vicecaptaincy — each copped 12month bans over the plot to tamper with the ball during the third Test in South Africa, while opener Cameron Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.

The bans prevent the trio from playing international or Australian domestic cricket, though there is nothing stopping them from signing with an English county side.

It is unclear whether Smith will pursue such a move, though he is expected to return to grade cricket in Sydney next summer.

The 28-year-old remains affiliated with Fox Sports and has been linked to a potential commentary role under its new broadcast deal.

Newly appointed Australian coach Justin Langer on Thursday said he would welcome back each of the banned trio once they had served their suspensions.