WATCH: Steve Smith breaks silence on 'dark days' following ball-tampering scandal

Smith described the hardships he went through after getting slapped with a 12-month ban and stated that said it was a difficult period but he has learnt to deal with it

Former Australia captain Steve Smith Friday addressed the Australian media for the first time since he broke down following the aftermath of the ball-tampering saga. He described the hardships he went through after getting slapped with a 12-month ban and stated that said it was a difficult period but he has learnt to deal with it.

“I've had my ups and downs. There have been some dark days where I haven't wanted to get out of bed and things like that. But I've had a close group of people around me to help me know that it's OK,” Smith said.

“These nine months have been a big learning curve for me, having a year out of the game has given me a time mentally refresh and get myself in a good headspace to go again,” he added.

On what transpired in the dressing room during the infamous Newlands Test, Smith said it was a failure of leadership on his part.

“In the room, I walked past something and had the opportunity to stop it and I didn't do it. It went out and happened on the field. I had the opportunity to stop it rather than say I didn't want to know anything about it. That was my failure of leadership for that and I have taken responsibility for that,” he recalled.

He may have been out of the international cricket but is following the ongoing India-Australia series down under. He admitted that ‘it hasn't been easy to watch from the sidelines’.

“...particularly when the boys haven't played their best in a couple of games. It's been hard watching and knowing that I can't go out and help them. But I was really proud of the way the boys played last week in Perth,” he said referring to the second Test which Australia won by 146 runs to draw level in the four-match series.

While serving his ban, Smith has participated in several T20 competitions, including in Canada and the Caribbean, in a bid to get play time. The IPL is scheduled to be held in April-May followed by the World Cup in England starting May 30.

The 29-year-old plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Although Smith stepped down from captaincy in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal, he continues to be a part of the franchise.

“I was playing in the Bangladesh League, but I don't know what is happening there at the moment. After that, I have the Pakistan League and then the IPL, which I think is adequate preparation for the World Cup, if I'm selected,” Smith said.