Ex-Australian skipper Steve Smith appeared upbeat while batting in three net sessions ahead of his return to competitive cricket on Toronto on Thursday.
Three months into one-year bans imposed by Cricket Australia over the Cape Town Test ball-tampering scandal, Smith and former deputy David Warner return to action at the inaugural Global T20 Canada league in Toronto. It is a six-team, three-week tournament also featuring Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Shahid Afridi.
Both Smith and Warner took part in training sessions at the same indoor cricket facility just north of Toronto on Wednesday.
Toronto Nationals coach Phil Simmons agreed his charge Smith looked sharp ahead of his first match against Gayle’s Vancouver Knights at Maple Leaf Cricket Club.
“Steve had had a couple sessions in the nets today and he seems to be alright for what he has gone through over the past few months; he seems to be alright,” Simmons told.
“It’s great to have Steve among us and I know he is going to do all he can to help us to the top of the table in this league.
“I think it’s important for Steve just to play cricket and enjoy it again because (the ball-tampering scandal) was very hard on him for him.”
Warner will play the following day when his Winnipeg Hawks take on the Montreal Tigers. He also looked relaxed, joking with teammates and officials before and after his training session.
