Justin Langer unsure if Steve Smith wants Australia captaincy back

Steve Smith's ban on leading Australia ends in March but star batsman may t want Test captaincy back, coach Justin Langer says. Steve Smith skippered team until he was suspended for 12 months over a brazen attempt to alter ball with sandpaper under his watch in Cape Town last year. Part of his punishment included a furr year-long exile from any leadership role. Calls have grown for Steve Smith to take over from Tim Paine when ban is lifted since his incredible batting performances helped Australia retain Ashes against England.

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't a simple decision for Steve Smith', says Justin Langer

But Justin Langer said it was t a simple decision, with Smith admitting his exploits -- 774 runs in just seven innings -- left him mentally and physically shattered. "I've built a good relationship with Steve over last 18 months, and it ( captaincy) is going to come down to honest conversations," coach told Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Saturday. "You can see how exhausted he was from effort he put into his batting (during Ashes), and wher he wants burden of captaincy as well is something we'll have to work out over time. "I'll be one of selectors, and I think we'll just work out what's best." Paine, who will be 35 in December, will almost certainly retain role for home summer Test series against Pakistan and New Zealand, despite occasional criticism of his batting and captaincy during Ashes.

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Justin Langer backs out of form David Warner

Justin Langer said he was "doing a brilliant job at moment". "He's been outstanding in his time as captain. However long he wants to keep playing for is ar thing," he added. Unlike Steve Smith, former vice-captain David Warner endured a miserable return from "sandpaper gate" scandal, struggling to make double figures against England. But Justin Langer said he still had confidence in explosive opener, who returned to form with a century for New South Wales in Sheffield Shield last week. "He had a poor series against England, doubt. That's just a fact, and he kws that" Justin Langer said. "But he also hasn't lost his talent, because he was highest run-scorer in World Cup two weeks before Ashes started, and he was highest run-scorer in IPL (Indian Premier League) before that. So he can bat. " or thing about David Warner, my experience tells me that you never write off champion players. And he's a champion player."  

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