Aaron Finch Says 2018 Incident Made Steve Smith More Relaxed as a Player

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch stated that the two-year leadership ban following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal significantly benefited Steve Smith's batting performance. Finch noted that removing the captaincy burden freed Smith from the extensive time commitments away from his own game, allowing him to follow his unconventional preparation methods without pressure.

Finch praised Smith as the best player he ever played with, highlighting his natural gift and intense work ethic. Smith's post-suspension form was underscored during the 2019 Ashes series, where he scored 774 runs across four Tests at an average of 110.57 to help Australia retain the urn.

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