“He Will Captain Again”: When Ricky Ponting Predicted Steve Smith To Return To Leadership Role After Retaining Ashes 2019

After the Sandpaper Gate incident, Australian vice-captain Steve Smith was banned from international cricket for a period of 12 months. Wicket-keeper Tim Paine was made the new captain of the side and he emerged as a successful leader as well. Ashes 2019 was Smith’s first Test series after his ban, and he did wonders with the bat.

Smith got a lot of stick from England fans throughout Ashes 2019, but he was head and shoulders above anyone else on that tour. In four matches, he scored 774 runs at an average of 110.57 courtesy of three centuries and three half-centuries. He played a vital part in helping Australia to retain the Ashes.

Legendary Australian captain Ricky Ponting then predicted Smith to come into the leadership role again in the future. Apart from the playing ban, Cricket Australia also declared that Smith won’t be considered in the decision-making group for a period of at least 12 months.

Ricky Ponting Predicted Steve Smith To Return To Leadership Rule After Retaining Ashes 2019

Talking to smh.com.au, Ponting said that the Australian public may not like the decision, but Smith will be back as captain of the side. Surprisingly, the fans in Australia also backed Ponting’s opinion as Smith was showing no signs of the ban on his performances. He won the heart of people with his outstanding batting in Ashes 2019.

“Steve Smith – I think he will captain again, I don’t know what the Australian public might think about that.”

Ponting’s prediction proved to be right as well. Ahead of Ashes 2021-22, Paine was involved in a sexting scandal and was removed from the team. Pacer Pat Cummins was made the new captain Smith was formally back in the leadership role as he was appointed the vice-captain.

Cummins missed out on the Adelaide Test of Ashes 2021-22 and Smith finally led the side after so long. Australia won that match by a huge margin of 275 runs. He led the Australian team in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 as well when Cummins went home to take care of his mother.

Steve Smith Test Captaincy Record

Smith led Australia in a Test match for the first time in 2014 against India in Brisbane and the Aussies won that match by four wickets. His last match as captain also came against India in 2023 in Ahmedabad which ended in a draw.

Smith has captained Australia in 38 matches so far with 21 victories. In terms of Test wins as Australian captain, he is just behind Ponting (48), Steve Waugh (41), Mark Taylor (26) and Michael Clarke (24). It can be said that Smith has been one of Australia’s best batters and captain as well.