During the ongoing Ashes series, the flamboyant batsman Steve Smith was seen setting the field and giving the tips to the bowlers more often than not. Regarding the same, the ruckus was created on social media, as Tim Paine is the original skipper of the team. Meanwhile, Ricky Ponting sees no issues in such stuff.
Smith, who was banned for a year from representing Australia, following last year’s ball-tampering scandal, was also imposed a two-year sanction on the captaincy. It does not allow him to assume an official leadership position within the Australian outfit until March 2020. However, Ponting feels Smith should continue to ‘help in whichever way’.
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Steven Smith has impressed on his Test return with a fighting knock of 144 in the 1st innings of the 1st Ashes Test and is continuing to frustrate England with another dogged performance with the bat as Australia try to gain an upper hand in their 2nd innings in Birmingham.
An absolute load of rubbish – Ricky Ponting
Assistant coach Ricky Ponting has called, contrary to many others, suggestions that Smith should not be giving tactical advice to captain Tim Paine, “an absolute load of rubbish.” Ponting also said that as long as the authorities are okay with smith returning as captain once his leadership ban expires, he wouldn’t have any problems with it as well.
“I read a bit of that stuff this morning, with people online going on about the fact he shouldn’t be doing it because he’s not captain,” Ponting told cricket.com.au. “That’s an absolute load of rubbish. He’s not captain. He’s not tossing the coin and he’s not picking the team. But an experienced guy like him with a cricket brain that he’s got, Tim would be silly to not try and tap into that and not try to use him when he can.”
“He’s served his time as far as his playing suspension goes and everyone knows he can’t captain again until next year. He’s part of a team that is relying on him heavily for his experience, so he can help in whichever way and wherever he possibly can.”
Smith will be just 30 when his leadership ban expires next year and despite the pressures of the top job, Ponting says he would have no issue with the former skipper resuming the role at some stage.