Former Australia captain Steven Smith has appeared in a television advertisement for telecommunications company Vodafone.

Smith reportedly wasn’t paid for the appearance, which effectively leveraged the disgrace endured during and after the ball-tampering saga that rocked Australia’s tour of South Africa earlier this year.

Smith, and fellow batsmen David Warner and Cameron Bancroft are currently serving Cricket Australia-imposed bans for their involvement.

‘I was in a pretty dark space. It made me realise what other people go through and what they need to get through those difficult times,’ Smith states in the advertisement.

‘I’ve certainly had some difficult days. But it’s okay to be vulnerable. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s about the way you respond to it that’s really important. I want to come back better than I was.’

The ban, however, does not prevent him from competing in domestic T20 tournaments around the world – or amateur cricket in Australia.

He recently represented the Vancouver Knights in the Global T20 Canada and Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League – and Sutherland District Cricket Club in New South Wales.

‘It was just about being upfront and honest and taking responsibility. It’s nice to be back at my Sutherland club, I just love being in a contest. It’s just you versus the bowler,’ he added.

Photo: Getty