Australia star batsman Steve Smith admits he ‘would be keen’ to take up the role of captaincy once again if the opportunity presented itself.

Smith was stripped of the leadership after his role in the infamous ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal that rocked Australian cricket back in 2018.

Alongside former vice-captain David Warner, the right-hander also served a 12-month ban from all forms of cricket as a result.

But, since his return to the Australia set-up in 2019, Smith has been in excellent form with the bat with many suggesting he should be given the opportunity to captain the team again.

‘I’ve certainly had a lot of time to think about it and I guess now I’ve got to a point where, if the opportunity did come up again, I would be keen,’ Smith told News Corp recently.

‘If it was what Cricket Australia wanted and it was what was best for the team at the time, it’s certainly something I would be interested in now, that’s for sure.’

Wicketkeeper Tim Paine has led the Test team ever since the scandal and managed to restore the character of and respect for the team with a few impressive results. Similarly, Aaron Finch captained Australia to the 2019 World Cup semi-finals and helped Australia become the No 1 T20I side in the world last year.

Smith, though, added that he will always have to carry the burden of what happened in the Cape Town Test against the Proteas.

‘I’m always going to have to live with Cape Town, regardless of whether I lead again or not. It’s always there. I’ve been through all that now.

‘Time keeps moving forward, and I’ve learnt so much the last few years about myself and grown as a human being. I feel as though I’d be in a better place, if the opportunity did come up,’ he added.