Steve Smith says he had opportunity to stop ball-tampering scandal but turned blind eye, admits failing as a leader

Sydney: Former Australia skipper Steve Smith admitted on Friday he failed as a captain by turning a blind eye to the ball-tampering scandal and said it has been hard watching Australia struggle from the sidelines. The former skipper is still serving a one-year ban from the international and domestic game for his part in the incident that rocked the cricket world, in which sandpaper was used to try and rough up the ball in South Africa. [caption id=“attachment_5769981” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Steve Smith spoke to the media for first time since he brown down in tears at a press conference following the scandal in March. AFP[/caption] Asked what went on in the changing rooms before Cameron Bancroft and David Warner went out and attempted to cheat, he said: “I had the opportunity to stop it at that point rather than say, ‘I don’t want to know anything about it’. “And that was my failure of leadership. And, you know, I’ve taken responsibility for that.” Speaking to the media in Australia for the first time since he broke down in tears at a press conference following the scandal in March, Smith said it was the only incident of ball-tampering that he knows about. The scandal had far-reaching consequences with a clean-out of top executives from Cricket Australia after a scathing review blamed its “arrogant and controlling” culture was partly to blame for players bending the rules. But while it initially unleashed a torrent of vitriol against the players, Smith’s tearful apology on arrival home tugged at the heartstrings. Widely considered among the finest batsmen in the world today, Smith admitted there had been “dark days” since as he grappled with his fall from grace. But with his suspension running out at the end of March, Smith now can see light at the end of the tunnel and is desperate to return, with the World Cup and the Ashes next year in his sights. “I’m just moving forward day to day, and doing what I need to do to prepare to hopefully get another opportunity to play for Australia,” he said. “And if that’s World Cup and Ashes, so be it. And no doubt the English crowd will be incredibly hostile. I’m ready for that, if that happens.” The 29-year old also said he is desperate to recover lost ground ahead of next year’s World Cup by competing in the IPL. “Now the way the One Day game is played it’s almost like an extended T20. So I think T20 cricket is a good way to prepare and the IPL is one of the best tournaments around the world,” he added. The 29-year-old plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Although Smith stepped down from captaincy in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal, he continues to be a part of the franchise. “I was playing in the Bangladesh League, but I don’t know what is happening there at the moment. After that I have the Pakistan League and then the IPL, which I think is adequate preparation for the World Cup, if I’m selected,” Smith said. Smith was barred from taking part in Bangladesh Premier League after objections raised by some franchises. He has spent the time away playing for his grade cricket club Sutherland, which he captained to the New South Wales Premier T20 championship on Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Smith has also had stints in Canada’s Global T20 competition and in the Caribbean Premier League. But he suffered a setback this week when he was barred from the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League T20 tournament on a technicality. Some of the hardest times during his ban came when the diminished Australian team struggled in his absence. “It’s been tough at times, particularly when the boys haven’t played their best in a couple of games, it’s been hard watching and knowing that I can’t go out and help them,” he said. “But I was really proud of the way they played last week in Perth (during the second Test against India, which they won). “I thought they were magnificent. I think Tim Paine’s leadership has been exceptional since taking over as captain,” Smith added. “He’s obviously faced difficult circumstances to begin with, and he’s done a terrific job.” With inputs from AFP and PTI