Exiled Smith mulls return to England
STEVE Smith could return to first- class cricket as early as this month, with the exiled Australian skipper pondering a County cricket stint.
The Bulletin has learnt that a move to England could be the first stop in Smith’s long journey back to the Australian team.
While he has been exiled from domestic and international cricket in Australia for the next 12 months, it is understood Cricket Australia would not stand in Smith’s way should he want to make a move to England, where the County season starts later this month.
Fellow banned player Cameron Bancroft is also considering a County move despite having been axed from Somerset following the ball- tampering saga.
Smith and Dave Warner, who is less likely to chase a stint in England, had their rich IPL contracts torn up, meaning the English Cricket Board would need to rubberstamp any moves by County sides to sign the besieged trio.
A potential move would also help the players in a bid to impress ahead of the 2019 Ashes campaign in England.
Smith is no stranger to playing domestic cricket in England.
He skipped the final year of his schooling to play league cricket in England, going on to feature for Kent’s second XI. He holds an English passport and was pursued by England to represent their national team, with Surrey leading the way for his services.
Indian captain Virat Kohli will play for Surrey this English summer.
Smith’s potential move comes as Australian Cricketers’ Association ( ACA) presi- dent Greg Dyer labelled the nine- and 12- month bans as “disproportionate”.
He also backed reports that the players should be allowed to return earlier to domestic cricket.
The players have until tomorrow to appeal their bans, with the ACA providing assistance.
“Justice which is rushed can sometimes be flawed,” said Dyer, a former Test player. “Of the dozen or so matters of this type, the most severe suspension to date has been a ban for two one- day internationals.
“The informed conclusion is that, as right as the motivation is, the proposed penalties are disproportionate relative to precedent.
“The ACA asks Cricket Australia in its final deliberation to consider all these factors.”
Dyer criticised elements of Cricket Australia’s handling of the matter, particularly the rushed Smith and Bancroft press conference where they first addressed the media about the incident.
“This was unfair to the players,” Dyer said.
“It would be unfair to any person in any workplace to be rushed in this way.”