Nicholas Pooran will learn from his mistake and move past it, believes Steve Smith

Since the sandpaper gate in Newlands almost a year back, ball tampering has turned into the most dreaded word in the cricketing world. Young West Indies hard hitter Nicolas Pooran is the first to be booked for ball tampering since the fiasco more than a year ago now and former Australia skipper Steven Smith has come to his aid.

Smith who was himself caught up in the sandpaper gate, along with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, has hoped that young Pooran, who accepted the ball tampering charges levelled against him, will learn from his mistake. Smith also voiced his view about the penalty levied and expressed that he doest feel hard done by Cricket Australia as he stressed that every board has a different way to deal with its issues.

"Everyone is different, every board is different, and the way they deal with certain issues. For me, I copped it on the chin... it is what it is. I know Nicholas, I've played a bit of cricket with him and he's a talented player and someone with a bright future. I think he'll learn from his mistake and move past it,” Smith told Cricbuzz.

"I don't feel hard done by. It was a long time ago now. I've moved past it and I'm focusing on the present. I played with him (Pooran) in the Caribbean league at Barbados. I think he's going to be an exceptional player in white-ball cricket."

Smith, who made a spectacular return to international cricket in the Ashes after serving his year-long ban, has expressed his excitement to finally play the longest format of the game at home after a prolonged gap of almost two years. The Aussies will be playing the opening Test of the series against Pakistan at the Gabba.

"I'm pretty chilled about everything at the moment," he revealed.

"I've obviously been back playing for Australia for a little while now and even my first Test back in England I didn't think too much of it. I was just playing a game and doing what I love. It's great to be playing my first Test back in Australia, I'm excited about that. I've had some success personally at the Gabba and we usually play pretty well as a team here. I'm excited about getting back out there. Hopefully, we can have a really successful summer."