Former Aussie skipper Steve Smith plays cricket for first time since ball-tampering saga in South Africa

STEVE Smith must have almost forgotten what a standing ovation sounded like but on Friday morning (EST) he rediscovered the joy of the game. WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS!

STEVE Smith must have almost forgotten what a standing ovation sounded like, after the abyss of the past few months, but on Friday morning (EST) he rediscovered the joy of the game.

The deposed Aussie captain, left broken and shattered by that infamous day in Cape Town, took his first step back with a confidence-boosting half century in his highly anticipated return to cricket.

There was a time when fans cheering his milestones all blurred into one, but there was something special about 4000 odd Canadians applauding his batting exhibition in the backwaters of Toronto.

Steve Smith hits out in his return to cricket. Picture: Getty.

Coming to the crease in the first over of Toronto’s chase of Vancouver’s 226 in the opener of the Global Twenty20 League at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club, Smith slipped back into his pads as if he’d never left the game.

Even after three months out of the game, banned for 12 months from international cricket over the ball tampering scandal – Smith is still officially ranked the No.1 Test batsman in the world.

On this evidence, his absence has not impacted the ability of a man that for the past few years has been compared to Bradman.

Yes, the standard of this morning’s clash was more akin to park cricket, and the conditions just as raw – but Smith’s half century off just 34 balls was still class.

Ultimately he fell for 61, but Smith was back.

Steve Smith is back and isn’t he happy. Picture: Getty.

Smith made a big impact in his first game in three months. Picture: Getty.

His innings proved match-winning, with Toronto clinching a thrilling six-wicket win in the last over thanks to a booming Darren Sammy six.

Beamed across television screens around the world at his lowest point in the days after the ball tampering fiasco – Smith momentarily left that pain behind him and just had fun.

It was about as regulation as it gets, but the shackles were broken with the most subtle moment after Toronto won the toss and bowled first.

Chris Gayle chipped a ball into the outfield, Smith steadied himself in his run and took the grab, taking care not to trip on the longest grass he’s probably encountered since he was a kid at Menai-Illawong.

It was such a simple catch, the commentators would have barely broken their stride if this was an international Twenty20, other than the fact it was the ever dangerous Universe Boss who was sent packing to the pavilion.

But after the sheer turmoil Smith has been through over the past few months, the catch to open the fledgling Canadian T20 Global League was a significant moment in the deposed skipper’s comeback trail.

The former Aussie skipper was stumped for 61. Picture: Getty.

There was little fanfare from Smith but just the familiar sensation of hi-five’s from teammates indicated that out of the darkness, the 29-year-old has returned to his happy place.

Smith returned to the fence at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club to a throng of fans requesting selfies. Smith obliged.

This is no sold-out MCG, but it’s one for the true believers.

He dropped a fly ball a few overs later that he should have caught, and had another catch taken off him due to a no-ball – but the smile was back.

There’s no way of sugar coating it. It’s park cricket stuff at the Maple League Club. But it’s fun.

Steve Smith had a mixed day in the field. Picture: Getty.

The electronic scoreboard didn’t work. The manual one is hidden behind the stands. The pitch looks like it’s already had three weeks’ worth of play on it and there’s a strip of artificial turf halfway to the boundary that’s been bolted down by dozens of metal screws.

Cricket Australia’s insurance types might have some concerns.

But Smith was happy.

At one point fielding on the fence in front of the media box, he politely asked the scorers what the score was.

A local journalist told him he should have a bowl.

Smith shook his head, and smiled.

There might have been a part of Smith, asking, ‘what am I doing here?’

But it looks as though he’s chosen just to enjoy the ride.