{ "id": "44081", "author": "16", "cnmid": "0", "title": "Banned Steve Smith eyes comeback in 2019 ICC World Cup", "lang": "en", "series": "1", "cup_year": "2018", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Melbourne, Dec 21 (CRICKETNMORE): Banned for a year for his role in the ball tampering scandal earlier this year, former Australia skipper Steve Smith is eyeing a return to the side as the Kangaroos p", "subtype": "", "editor1": "

Melbourne, Dec 21 (CRICKETNMORE):<\/strong> Banned for a year for his role in the ball tampering scandal earlier this year, former Australia skipper Steve Smith is eyeing a return to the side as the Kangaroos prepare to defend their title at the upcoming 50-over ICC World Cup in England and Wales next year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

With Smith's ban slated to end in March 2019, the 29-year-old is focussed on putting the next three months to good use and has been playing club cricket for Sutherland.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"At the moment I am pretty content with where I am at," Smith was quoted as saying by the International Cricket Council (ICC) website. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"We'll see what the future will hold. The next three months is about just preparing as well as I can to hopefully be a part of the World Cup and the Ashes," he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Smith also heaped praises on his successor Tim Paine for guiding the Australians to a fantastic win over India in the second Test at Perth -- their first since the first Test of the four-match series in South Africa, in Durban. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

In between, the Australians lost the last two Tests on that tour of South Africa, lost the two-match Test series in the UAE and then lost the opening Test at home against India in Adelaide.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Tim Paine has done an exceptional job and (so has) Aaron Finch taking over the one-day side," Smith said. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

"He's had a tough start to that with the performances of the team. If I get back and play under them I will do everything I can to help them out and help Australia have success."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It's been tough at times, particularly when the boys haven't played their best in a couple of games and it's been hard watching and not knowing I can go out and help them," Smith added.<\/p>\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2018\/12\/STEVEVEV.jpg", "alt_img": "Banned Steve Smith eyes comeback in 2019 ICC World Cup Images", "alt_title": "Banned Steve Smith eyes comeback in 2019 ICC World Cup", "image1": "", "video": "", "seo_title": "Banned Steve Smith eyes comeback in 2019 ICC World Cup On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "Melbourne, Dec 21 (CRICKETNMORE): Banned for a year for his role in the ball tampering scandal earlier this year, former Australia skipper Steve Smith is eyeing a return to the side as the Kangaroos p", "seo_keywords": "Steve Smtih", "tag": "", "tagging": "Steve Smtih,", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": "0", "slug": "banned-steve-smith-eyes-comeback-in-2019-icc-world-cup", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": "0000-00-00", "ians_time": "00:00:00", "server_time": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "trash": "0", "view_count": "2482", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2018-12-21 17:35:09", "updated": "2018-12-21 17:35:09", "img_from": "", "img_source": "", "schedule_publish": "0000-00-00 00:00:00", "news_keywords": "Steve Smith, ICC World Cup, International Cricket Council, Tim Paine, Aaron Finch", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "0", "google_feed": "0", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "1", "jio_date": "2018-12-21 17:35:09", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "0", "google_date": "2018-12-21 17:35:09", "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/banned-steve-smith-eyes-comeback-in-2019-icc-world-cup-44081" }