Smith will lead Australia again: Mark Taylor

Sydney, Sep 12 (IANS) Former Australia skipper Steve Smith has made an impressive comeback in international cricket as he top-scored in the ongoing Ashes 2019 with 671 runs in five innings after his comeback to the Test cricket following a 12-month ban for ball tampering in South Africa.

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor, who was part of the Cricket Australia board that handed Steve Smith a one-year ban and a further year's suspension from any leadership role, seems very satisfied with Smith's stunning form and feels he will lead the team once again.

"I believe Smith will captain Australia again. I was on the Cricket Australia board that determined the penalties for Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft over the events of Cape Town and have no doubt he will be a better leader next time around because of the very harsh lessons he learnt," Taylor said in a column for the Sydney Morning Herald.

"To me it's not a matter of whether he (Smith) becomes captain again on April 1. It doesn't have to happen that quickly," he added.

"But I'd like to think when (Tim) Paine is finished as Test captain -- whether that's in six months' time or two or three years -- he would be a candidate to lead the side again."

Meanwhile, another Aussie former captain, Ian Chappell, has also backed Smith to assume the role.