Former batsman Mark Waugh believes Steve Smith has repented enough for his role in the ball-tampering scandal and needs to be handed Australia’s Test captaincy after the retirement of incumbent Tim Paine.
Smith was removed from captaincy due to his involvement in the scandal in 2018.
However, ahead of the four-Test series against India, there has been discussions and debates on whether it was time to reinstate Smith as captain.
“I would have made Steve Smith captain. He is one of the best players in the team, so he is always going to be picked in the team,” Waugh said on Fox Sports’ Heavy Roller Podcast.
“Plus he has captained Australia for a number of years. He’s got a great cricket brain and I think he is a leader, so why not?”
Smith had captained Australia in 34 Tests, 51 ODIs and 8 T20Is between 2015 and 2018 before being banned.
“I know a lot of people say why should he captain again? But hang on the crime has been paid for as minor as I thought it was,” Waugh said.
“He’s paid his penance there, so he gets back to captain. I think he is a pretty good captain.”
However, spin legend Shane Warne believes Smith’s time as captain is up and he should just focus on amassing runs for the country.
“I wouldn’t (make him captain), I think Steve Smith has had his time. I would go with someone else as captain. Steve Smith we want to bat and bat,” Warne said.