Don’t expect same Steve Smith, says Chappell
IAN Chappell doubts whether Steve Smith can be as good a player as he was and whether he can reclaim enough team respect to regain the Australian captaincy.
While the Australian Cricketers Association is leading a push to have the suspensions on Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft lifted fol“I’m lowing the damning Cricket Australia review, former national captain Chappell is opposed to that.
He also warns Smith may no longer be the same worldbeating batsman when he does return from his year-long ban as a result of the ball-tampering scandal.
“I think he’ll come back as a player,” Chappell told the Nine Network’s Sports Sunday.
not sure he’ll be as good a player as he was because confidence is a big part of his game and that’s going to have taken a fair hit.”
... ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR A CAPTAIN IS TO EARN THE RESPECT OF YOUR PLAYERS IAN CHAPPELL
While Smith can return to the Australian team in March, he must wait another 12 months after his ban is lifted to be eligible for a leadership role.
“As for captaincy, I think he’s going to struggle to ever be a captain again because one of the most important things for a captain is to earn the respect of your players,” Chappell said. “He’s going to find it hard to recover that ground.”
But fellow ex-skipper Mark Taylor disagreed, predicting Smith to return with the same presence in the Aussie team.
“I’m not sure that’s the case. I think the players still very much respect Steven Smith,” Taylor told Sports Sunday.
“Yes, he made a very bad mistake in turning a blind eye to that. But everyone makes mistakes in the world and you’re allowed to get better.”