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After 2018 incident, Steve Smith was more relaxed as a player, says Aaron Finch

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch said that the two‑year ban on Steve Smith’s captaincy after the 2018 ball‑tampering scandal helped the batsman relax and focus on his own game. Finch explained that when Smith was stripped of the leadership role, he no longer had to split his preparation between personal batting work and team‑wide responsibilities, which reduced mental pressure.

Finch added that Smith’s willingness to follow an unconventional approach and his natural talent combined with hard work set him apart from peers like David Warner. The former captain pointed to Smith’s 2019 Ashes performance – 774 runs in four Tests at an average of 110.57, missing only one match due to concussion – as proof that the captaincy‑free period was beneficial.

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