Steve Smith ready to return as Australian Test cricket captain if needed

Almost three years since standing down as Australian test captain, Steve Smith says is ready to step up if it’s in the team’s best interests.

Steve Smith would accept a return to the Australian captaincy if it’s in the team’s best interests.

The biggest dilemma in Australian cricket came to the forefront again last weekend, when selectors needed to appoint a stand-in Twenty20 captain for the injured Aaron Finch.

Matthew Wade was given the nod, but coach Justin Langer said Smith was still in contention to take over the Test captaincy in the future, but that a process would have to be undertaken.

Smith revealed he was spoken to about the captaincy vacancy over the weekend, but admitted he isn’t entirely sure what the process would be other than the usual discussions between selectors and the CA board.

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Steve Smith says he’ll do whatever is best for the team and would accept the captaincy call if it came. Picture: Getty Images.

Right from the moment he returned to international cricket, Smith has maintained a dignified silence about the captaincy debate, not wanting to step on the toes of Paine or Finch.

But it’s clear Smith has not closed himself off from the thought of leading his country again, and would accept the role if the powers that be decided it was in the best interests of Australian cricket.

“There were discussions sort of taking place (last weekend) … For me I just said I’m happy to do whatever is best for the team and that’s the same going forward,” said Smith.

“I do whatever I can for the team. Right now, Tim and Finchy are doing really good jobs in both the formats of the game. I’m comfortable where I’m at right now but as I’ve always said I’ll do what’s best for the team.”

Smith said he wasn’t aware that he would be subjected to a different process to the normal method for appointing a skipper.

“Not entirely (sure). I think whenever there is a captain chosen, I think you go through a process where you go to the board and things like that,” said Smith.

“Other people are spoken to. So I’m sure. It won’t be too dissimilar. It’s probably more of a question for someone a bit higher up.

“But that’s all that has been said to me and yeah, we’ll let it rest for now.

“The guys at the moment are doing really good jobs and I’m really comfortable with where everything is at.”

The captaincy debate returned in Australia’s second T20 match against India, with Matthew Wade replacing Aaron Finch. Picture: Getty Images.

With Australia’s top order batting in chaos following the injury withdrawal of David Warner, doubt over Will Pucovski (concussion) and Joe Burns’ form slump, one prospect on the table is to move Marnus Labuschagne up to open the batting.

It’s a suggestion that would solve two problems in that a quality batsman would fill the breach at the top, and a place would be made further down the order for young gun all-rounder Cameron Green to debut.

However, the knock on the idea is that it disrupts the whole batting order, namely the balance of Labuschagne at No.3 and Smith at No.4.

Smith says he would have no qualms with moving up a place to No.3 for the first Test.

“That doesn’t bother me too much. I’ve batted a fair bit at No.3,” said Smith.

“Any lower than 4 I wouldn’t be overly happy, but anywhere up there I’m fine.

“When you bat at 3 you are sometimes in the first over of the game – that’s the reality of batting there so someone at 3 could certainly go up the top.

“Whether that’s spoken about I’m not sure, but whoever bats wherever, they’ve just got to do their job and that’s to score runs.”

Steve Smith is also open to moving up the batting order, with the top order in chaos. Picture: Getty Images.

Smith suffered a notable concussion in the second Test at Lord’s during the 2019 Ashes, only to return in the fourth Test and make a series-clinching double century.

But Smith said his experience couldn’t necessarily inform Pucovski on what the path ahead is for him following his ninth concussion.

“Every concussion is different. Everybody is different. Will has had a couple in the past so he’s experienced it and it’s just about getting over that hangover effect going through all the protocols and getting yourself to a position where you’re comfortable to go firstly into the nets,” said Smith.

“Will is still in Sydney, we’re here in Adelaide. I’m sure he’s working with the doctors there and doing everything he can to get himself right to play and that’s just by resting and recovering and getting over the hangover effect of what a concussion is.”

Originally published as Steve Smith ready to return as Australian Test cricket captain if needed