Tuesday 18 September 2018 12:52, UK
Steve Smith is needed back in Australian cricket as they cannot replace someone of his quality easily, according to former captain Steve Waugh.
Smith was sacked as Australia captain and is currently serving a one-year ban from international and state cricket for his part in the ball tampering scandal in South Africa earlier this year.
Smith is allowed to play in overseas Twenty20 competitions and lower level club cricket in Australia and is expected to feature for his club Sutherland in their game against Mosman on Saturday, at the Glenn McGrath Oval in Caringbah.
"We need him back in Australian cricket," Waugh told Fox Sports Australia.
"You can't lose someone of his quality overnight and expect to replace it and he's still only relatively young.
"The Australian public, they are forgiving. He (Smith) made a mistake and he's paid a heavy price for it.
"But if he gets back out there and plays with the same enthusiasm and passion, he loves playing cricket, he loves scoring runs, he wants to get back playing for Australia, I think Australians will move past what happened before.
"They obviously remember it, but they're big enough to realise you can make a mistake and grow from that and be stronger."
Steve Smith has played 64 Tests for Australia and averages 61.37 with the bat. Since his suspension, the Australian cricket team have struggled for results, losing 5-0 in an ODI series to England in June.
