Steve Smith’s journey to redemption starts here

Steve Smith begins his year-long ban, but a return to the cricket pitch raises the prospect of a dream partnership.

Nash Caine, 8, Kyen Miller, 8, and Abbi Miller, 10, with coach Joel Caine at Glenn McGrath Oval in Sydney’s Caringbah yesterday. Picture: James Croucherher

It was day one of Steve Smith’s journey to redemption. The former Australian Test captain reached out to a child in distress; boarded a long-haul flight, leaving behind the public display of remorse that earned him forgiveness around the world; and received the accolades of young cricketers at the local ground south of Sydney where he is likely to play out the next year.

In the hours following his emotional press conference on Thursday night, cricketers, politicians and public figures from around the world voiced their support for Smith, describing him as a good person who made a mistake, as his next career move became clear.

A 12-month ban by Cricket Australia for his involvement in the ball-tampering furore will mean Smith will not be allowed to play any professional game of cricket. Instead, he will be allowed to play next season at Sutherland District Cricket Club — his old club — where his name still haunts the Hall of Fame. Next season, the 28-year-old is expected to don the Sutherland whites, strap on his pads and walk out onto Glenn McGrath Oval in Caringbah.

Smith’s ex-Test teammate Shane Watson plays for Sutherland at the start of every season as a tune-up for his stints with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League. It is possible that, come next season, the dream partnership of Smith and Watson will open the batting for the club.

But yesterday it was the Caringbah Sports Cricket Club under-10s trio of Nash Caine, 8, Kyen Miller, 8, and Abbi Miller, 10, who were tossing the ball around at the oval. Their team is one of the feeder clubs for Sutherland. “The other team’s going to get smashed (when Smith plays),” Nash said. “Smith’s too good.”

Their rookie coach and Nash’s dad, former NRL player and commentator Joel Caine, said children were quick to forget the wrongs of the past. “Kids don’t seem to harbour ­resentment which adults can,” he said. “Smith made a horrible mistake and failed badly as a leader, but Blind Freddy can see he is a good person.

“When the time comes around and he is back playing grade ­cricket, not only will the kids be 10 deep for his photo and signature, they will be boasting to their mates that they got it.”

Smith faces two battles in coming months: one mental, one physical.

Steve Smith faces the media on Thursday night. Picture: AAP

Mentally, he risks being dragged down by the weight of those he feels he has disappointed. It is a battle he has shown himself to be ready for. Yesterday, after a long-haul flight he sent a message through Twitter to Nine News Sydney weekend newsreader Deborah Knight, personally apologising to her nine-year-old son Darcy for Smith’s involvement in the scandal and for how it affected the boy.

Knight, who guest hosts the Today Show, had written an emotional piece about the impact the ball-tampering ­ordeal had on her cricket-mad son. “My son Darcy sat with me and watched as Steve Smith faced the media for the first time,” she wrote. “Darcy and I were both in tears.”

TAUS P1 SYMPATHY FOR SMITH

Smith wrote: “Could you please apologise personally to your son for me ... Sorry that I made him upset also.”

Knight told The Weekend Australian last night her son would be overwhelmed: “There are lots of other people having this discussion. If Steve Smith could reach out to all cricket fans, he would.”

Physically, Smith’s battle will also be rigorous. From training with Australia’s top coaches, sports scientists and other elite athletes as Test captain, Smith will now return to solo sprints at Burrows Park in the beachside Sydney suburb of Clovelly. They had been part of his routine, but now his schedule will be clear. Free time is no longer a problem.

His father Peter will throw him balls in public nets while ex-Test quicks undoubtedly will keep him in nick during solo sessions.

Smith, who is expected to lose $6 million in the next year with the cancellation of his contracts and sponsorships, has only one place to turn to play the sport he loves. Only the amateurs, like the Sydney grade competition, can have him. Smith and his partners in ball-tampering crime, Dave Warner and Cameron Bancroft, cannot play any form cricket that earns them money.

Warner, who has not so far given a public explanation of his role in the scandal, says he will front the media at 11am today.

Steve Smith on an Emirates flight to Dubai yesterday.

Smith will return from exile for the beginning of the English county season in mid-April, 2019. He can play in England for six weeks before the World Cup begins in England on May 30. A successful World Cup in English conditions would virtually guarantee his ­selection in the Test squad for the Ashes series that begins in July. It’s possible that he will arrive in England next April and leave in September with another World Cup and replica urn in his kit bag.

Shane Warne proved it can be done. Warne was banned for 12 months for failing a drug test. His suspension ended on February 10, 2004. He was parachuted into the second day of a game for the Victoria 2nd XI at junction Oval in Melbourne. Ten days later, he was picked in the Australian Test squad for a tour of Sri Lanka. He took 10 wickets at Galle.

Smith will be only 29 when his ban is finished. First stop, Sutherland alongside Watson. Second stop, English county cricket. Third stop, the World Cup. Fourth stop, the Ashes.