‘I have a lot to do to earn back your trust’ — Steve Smith

Steve Smith has returned home to Australia after an extended trip overseas, and put up a post on his Instagram account on Friday 4 May vowing to “earn back your trust”.

Following the ball-tampering incident in the Cape Town Test against South Africa earlier this year, Smith was handed a 12-month ban by Cricket Australia (CA), and also barred from holding any leadership position with the national team for 24 months. He went abroad soon after announcing that he wouldn’t be appealing the ban.

“It’s great to be back home in Australia. I have had some time away to come to terms with everything and now it’s time to get back into it,” he wrote.

“The amount of emails and letters I have received has been incredible and I have been extremely humbled by the enormous amount of support you have given me. I now have a lot to do to earn back your trust.

“To my Mum, Dad and Dani [Willis, his fiancee] you have been my rock through this and I can’t thank you enough. Family is the most important thing in the world and I thank you for your love and support.”

Smith, as well as David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who were also handed penalties by CA, got the backing of Justin Langer on Thursday soon after the former opening batsman was named as successor to Darren Lehmann as the head coach of the national men’s team.

“When I think about Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith, they love the game of cricket more than anyone I know and they are great kids,” said Langer. “David Warner is the same. He's a really great young bloke. This will be a really important message: If they are willing to meet the standards of the Australian cricket team, I think everyone has a place.”