Australia linchpin batsman Steve Smith has showed impeccable consistency in Test cricket ever since marking his return to Australian squad after serving one-year ban for his role in the Sandpaper Gate fiasco.

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting believes Steve Smith should get another chance to captain Australia once current skipper Tim Paine's time is up.

Smith ended the 2019 Ashes Series as the highest run getter, amassing a whopping 774 runs against England over the course of the 5-match Test series.

"It's the million-dollar question: when Steve Smith's ban is up will he go straight back into the captaincy or will he not?" Ponting told 7NEWS.

"To be honest I think it's up to Tim how long he plays. He's the best keeper in the world. Whether that's as captain or not that's up to the hierarchy at Cricket Australia to make that decision. I've been on record already -- when Tim's time is up I'd like to see Steve Smith have another go.

"I think he probably feels like there's unfinished business there as far as his captaincy's concerned. He's got to want to do it and obviously then the authorities have to say yes or no," he added.

Paine has often been criticised for his poor form with the bat and questions have been raised about his position in the team

"You've got to look at who's the best man for the job as far as the captaincy's concerned," said Ponting who felt that Smith is the best candidate to lead Australia once Paine hangs his boots.

"If it's not Tim and it's not Steve, I'm not sure who the next one is right now. I think that's the big question that needs to be answered.

"(Smith) loves the responsibility, there's no doubt about that," he added.

"If he's captain again I don't think it'll hinder his batting at all. If it's the right thing for the team to have him captain we'll win more games as a result of that."