Should Aussie skipper Steve Smith be allowed to play Test cricket again?

I’M as angry and embarrassed as every other Aussie cricket fan out there but I think it’s important there isn’t a kneejerk reaction here.

Fine Steve Smith? Yep. Suspend him? Sure. Sack him as captain? Absolutely. But let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture here.

Yes, he has brought enormous shame and embarrassment to our proud cricketing country but to end someone’s career for ball tampering is a step too far in my opinion.

Let’s not forget that Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir is already back playing Test cricket after spotfixing, which is a far worse crime in my books.

What happened in South Africa is truly beyond belief in so many ways.

How not just one but several players and possibly team staff thought ball tampering was the way to go defies comprehension.

The fact that the scheme was hatched by the Australian leadership group of Smith, David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood makes it even more unbelievable and idiotic.

But after the culprits have paid their dues, they deserve a second chance.

We all make mistakes. This just happens to be a monumental one for all involved.

It took a few big mistakes for Ricky Ponting to become the player, leader and man that he was by the end of his career. The most disappointing part of this scandal is that the reputation of all future Australian cricketers has been tarnished. Let’s hope the current ones can learn from it. NEVER.

Steve Smith’s suggestion he would never stand down was enough to convince me he can’t be seen again with the baggy green on.

It won’t be up to him whether he stays or goes and Cricket Australia cannot in their right mind allow him, or anyone else involved in the ball tampering incident, to stay in the system.

I feel embarrassed, ashamed and angry because of their actions.

He and his teammates have tarnished the reputation of current and past players while future leaders will feel the affects of their decision for years to come.

It wasn’t a split second decision. It was calculated cheating and something they attempted to cover up.

The worst act in Australian cricket history cannot be forgiven. No amount of apologies, time in Shield cricket or away from the game completely can make up for the what Smith and the leadership group have done.

If Smith is allowed to walk back into the side either after a suspension or without one would send a dangerous message to players and fans across all levels of cricket.

The quality of the Australian team may decrease in the short term but it’s a small price to pay for integrity in the game. Fans won’t support these players again, even if they are winning.

They will support new players who display the hard but fair attitude that Australians respect, even if it comes with more losses.