I cried for four days, Smith says
As he prepares to reignite his cricket career in Canada this month, Steve Smith has revealed he spent four days in tears over the ball-tampering scandal that led to him losing the Australian captaincy.
Smith made a rare public appearance on Monday since he returned home from the ill-fated tour of South Africa in March in disgrace, where teammates David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were also suspended for their roles in the illegal scuffing of the ball with a piece of sandpaper in Cape Town.
He was a special guest at Sydney's Knox Grammar School's year six and senior school assembly, as part of the students' Gotcha 4 Life Foundation, and provided insight into the mental toll the scandal had taken on him.
"To be honest, I probably spent four days in tears. I was really struggling mentally and I was really lucky that I had some close friends and family members that I could speak to at all hours of the day," he said.
Smith discussed mental health, anxiety, making mistakes and the importance of boys and men establishing a network of friends and family to help them through challenging times.
"The people that I had supporting me through that whole time made a huge difference to the head space I am in now," he said.
An emotional Smith had broken down in tears and was comforted by his father, Peter, at his press conference at Sydney Airport upon returning home from South Africa, admitting that he had "made a serious error of judgement and I now understand the consequences".
Those consequences have seen him replaced as captain by Tim Paine, lose $2 million in personal sponsorships and playing contracts, and unable to play international or first-class cricket until March 29 next year.
However, the suspended trio can play in overseas Twenty20 tournaments, with Smith and Warner to resume in the inaugural Global T20 tournament in Canada, beginning June 28 in Toronto. Smith was drafted by the Toronto Nationals while Warner will play for Winnipeg.
Former Test vice-captain Warner, who is also serving a year-long ban, resumed training with NSW on Monday, and took to social media to detail his excitement over joining in a two-kilometre time trial ahead of the Twenty20 competition.
"Really excited to be a part of @gt20canada. Thanks to the Winnipeg Hawks for selecting me to play in what will be a really competitive tournament. Prep steps up this week in the nets," he said.
The banned men can use Cricket Australia and state facilities during their suspensions and train with their state squads. Smith and Warner will play NSW grade cricket later this year, while Warner has also signed up for the Strike League in Darwin, where he will play two one-day international matches on July 21 and 22.
Fairfax Media understands the national selectors will keep a close eye on their form through all tournaments, for Warner and Smith are unlikely to have any elite cricket before the squad is chosen for next year's World Cup in England – the first international event they will be available for.
Batting kingpins Smith and Warner are still seen as key cogs in the Australian team, with the national side facing an uncertain summer without their presence for a Test series against Pakistan, slated for the United Arab Emirates but which could yet be changed, and home series against India and Sri Lanka.
The new-look Australian side, also ravaged by injuries to fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, is in England preparing for a one-day series and one-off Twenty20 clash against the host nation. This comes as two reviews, one into the culture of management at CA, and the other into the team, are underway.
Coach Justin Langer, having replaced Darren Lehmann, who stood down, has spoken about the need for the team to play in the right spirit but also maintain an attacking attitude which underpins all good teams.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...for-four-days-smith-says-20180604-p4zje5.html
