Nearly nine months after the ball-tampering scandal that rocked Australian cricket, former captain Steven Smith spoke out on what transpired in the dressing room during the Newlands Test, calling it a "failure of leadership" on his part.
Smith, along with vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, was suspended from playing international and domestic cricket for ball-tampering in the Newlands Test against South Africa in earlier this year. Bancroft's ban ends on December 29, while it continues till March next year for the other two.
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This was Smith's first media appearance since his tearful confession, alongside his father, post the ball-tampering incident.
"In the room I walked past something and had the opportunity to stop it and I didn't do it. It went out and happened on the field," he told the media.
"I had the opportunity to stop it rather than say I didn't want to know anything about it. That was my failure of leadership for that and I have taken responsibility for that," he said.
The past nine months had been difficult, Smith admitted, but said he has learnt to deal with it.
"I have had my ups and downs. There have been some dark days where I haven't wanted to get out of bed and things like that. But I have had a close group of people around me to help me know that it's OK," Smith said.
"These ninth months have been a big learning curve for me, having a year out of the game has given me a time mentally refresh and get myself in a good headspace to go again," he added.
Smith said he hopes to return to international cricket in time for the 2019 World Cup. He also hopes to be part of Ashes, which takes place after the World Cup. “I will keep working hard and if I get that opportunity again, that would be great," Smith said.
While serving the suspension, he has been working closely for the cause of mental health as the number of suicides in Australia were alarmingly high. “The work that Gus (Worland) and I have been doing with Gotcha for Life, we are trying to create mental health awareness around the country,” Smith said.
During his time off, Smith has been playing at Twenty20 tournaments in Canada and the Caribbean and sometimes for his Sydney club side Sutherland. In recent weeks, however, he has been showing up for training sessions with the Australian team. He also recently shot an advertisement with the Vodafone group.
