Steve Smith says he has moved on from the now infamous ball-tampering scandal as the former Australia captain returns to South Africa.
The Sutherland batsman is part of Australia's squad for their tour of South Africa, starting with a Twenty20 International in Johannesburg to be played in the early hours of Saturday morning (AEDT).
The tour is the first time Smith has returned to South Africa since he left amid the ball-tampering storm in March, 2018.
Smith was sent home as Cricket Australia banned him from international and domestic cricket for one year and from holding a leadership position for two years for his role in the scandal.
But Smith was able to play grade cricket, turning out for Sutherland during the 2018-19 NSW Premier Cricket season before elbow surgery ended his campaign.
He was also required to complete 100 hours of voluntary service in community cricket.
Smith said while he had endured a flashback on arriving back in Johannesburg he had moved on the event and was looking forward to another profitable series with the bat.
"Probably just walking into the hotel, just initially I was like 'last time I was here, it wasn't pretty'," Smith told reporters in Johannesburg.
"It wasn't the best time in my life. But I've moved on from that, learned a lot over the last two years and I'm moving forward.
"It's good to be back here playing and I'm looking forward to this series."
After the first Twenty20 International in Johannesburg there are further T20 matches in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town before the one-day internationals are played in Paarl, Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom.
The T20Is are part of the squad's build-up to the men's ICC T20 World Cup that will take place in Australia in October.
Smith said while he was prepared for some choice words from South African crowds it would not affect him, just as it didn't during last year's Ashes series in England.
"I think [Australia coach] Justin [Langer] said something the other day, we had the dress rehearsal in England where there was a fair bit going on. But I honestly don't notice it," he said.
"Particularly when I'm batting, I don't really hear anything that's going on. I block it all out. Maybe a little bit when I'm fielding but then again, it's just words. It doesn't affect me. If people want to say things then go for it.
"I've been to a few of the restaurants and people have been lovely. Guys have come up and had some photos and things like that and been really nice.
"That's been good. It's been pretty normal to when I've been here previously, nothing really different."
