Public opinion is still divided over Steve Smith with the former national captain having “a lot of work to do” to win back the cricketing public, according to The Courier Mail’s Robert Craddock.
Just three years after one of Australia’s darkest cricketing moments happened in South Africa with Sandpapergate, Smith was returned to the fold as vice-captain of the team on Friday.
However, have enough Australians forgiven Smith for his actions in Cape Town?
Despite serving his time of absence and corresponding leadership ban, Craddock believes many still hold passionate feelings against making Smith a leader.
“I was doing a cricket club lunch on Friday when the captaincy and vice-captaincy was confirmed, I thought I’ll make the most of this, I said, ‘Hands up, anybody who’s got a serious objection to Steve Smith being vice-captain’,” he told SEN’s Whateley.
“I reckon there were 180 people in the room and probably 45 put their hands up, that’s one in four (that object).
“And the hands, a lot of them went straight up, you could tell the strength of the feeling.”
With an absence of leadership in the other consistent members of the Test team, Craddock believes Cummins, who has become captain in wake of Tim Paine stepping down, was resolute in wanting Smith as his deputy.
“Steve Smith’s got a lot of work to do, I like the idea of him supporting Cummins, and because Cummins got the guy he wanted to, and if he’s going to be a success Cummins has to get the guy he wants to, and that guy was Smith right from the start,” he said.
“If Smith hadn’t been vice-captain, I’m still not sure Cummins would have wanted the job, because he needs someone he can rely on.
“But there will be blowback.”
Cummins has confirmed Smith will act as a captain and move fielders at times, due to the difficulties of captaining as a fast bowler.
However, Cricket Australia’s decision to elect Smith as a sole vice-captain will mean he’ll take over full duties should Cummins miss a Test match.
If the world’s number one fast bowler does get injured or is rested, Craddock believes it will “escalate” a situation that is already threatened to divide supporters of the national team.
“He’s got to win them back, he really does, but it escalates immensely if Cummins pulls a hamstring and misses a Test, particularly if it’s in Australia,” he continued.
“Say (it’s the) Boxing day Test, S. Smith leads them through the gate, that’s when we’ll know the full force of it.
“It is there, and there are people who will never forgive nor forget.
“No one has to apologise for bagging the decision, even I’m torn on it.”
Smith first became full-time captain in 2015 when Michael Clarke retired and captained 34 Tests for 18 wins, 10 draws and six losses.
The Ashes gets underway at The Gabba on December 8.