I now have a lot to do to earn back your trust: Steve Smith

Steve Smith, Australia's former captain, said that with passage of time and the amount of support he received from his family and fans has helped him to "come to terms with everything" in the aftermath of the ball tampering scandal which saw him being banned for 12 months by Cricket Australia. The middle-order batsman posted a picture with his fiancee Dani Willis on Instagram and shared a message thanking people for their support.

Shortly after he returned to Australia, a crestfallen Smith had broken down on several occasions while speaking to the media and took 'full responsibility' of the ball-tampering incident. Smith also tendered an unconditional apology to the country and cricket fraternity.

"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, 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," he said.

During the Cape Town Test versus South Africa, Cameron Bancroft was caught rubbing the ball with sandpaper in an attempt to produce reverse swing. Smith and David Warner's roles also came under heavy scrutiny after it emerged that they were part of the 'leadership group', which was involved in the ploy to alter the condition of the ball to aid reverse swing. The ICC subsequently suspended Smith for one Test and fined 100 per cent of his match fee. Meanwhile, Bancroft was slapped with a fine of 75 per cent and earned three demerit points.

Back home, Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull asked CA to act "decisively and emphatically" discipline those who were involved in the incident. In a strongly-worded speech, he also termed the ball-tampering incident a "disgrace". Eventually, CA set up an internal enquiry into the incident, with Smith and Warner being banned for a period of 12 months. Meanwhile, Bancroft was banned for nine months.

CA pointed out that the trio had to be given severe punishments due to the damage caused to the "reputation of Australian cricket". However, after an emotional Smith broke down in front of the media, the cricket community in general was more sympathetic towards the trio.

On a positive note for the three cricketers, Justin Langer, who replaced Darren Lehmann as the new coach of Australia this week, kept the door open for the trio's return to the national set-up. "David Warner made a mistake. I love the way he plays his cricket. I'm a cricket tragic, the way he fields and the way he bats, they are things, I guess to less trained eye, you might not respect that as much, but I love the way he plays his cricket.

"Has he got areas to get better at in? Yes. Has Steve Smith? Has Cameron Bancroft? Has every single person in Australian cricket? Yes. They have all got areas in we keep helping and mentoring them and if they meet the standards of the Australian cricket team, of course, they will be welcomed back," he added.

Smith and Warner will be available to represent Australia in April 2019, while Bancroft's ban will end by January 2019.