All-round Smith is all smiles

While the world knows of Steve Smith's extraordinary skills as a batter, the exiled former captain says he is in career-best bowling form, according to spearhead Mitchell Starc.

Smith started his Test career as a leg-spinner who batted at No.8 before ditching the bowling and metamorphosing into the world's best batter. 

But with time on his hands as he serves his 12-month suspension for the events of Cape Town, Smith has been rolling the arm over at NSW Blues training and in Premier Cricket with Sutherland.

The 29-year-old was at Moore Park today with the Blues and Starc said his former captain was in good spirits with less than five months of his ban left to serve. 

"He's got a smile on his face, he's been around training, he's talking about having to get back and get himself a bit fitter as well," Starc told reporters in Sydney today.

"He's in good spirits and it's good to see him around with bat and ball in hand.

"He said he's in career-best bowling form. We might see him bowl a lot more in grade cricket and when he comes back in a few months' time as well."

Starc shared lunch with Smith and Pat Cummins today and discussed a range of topics including Australia's one-day unit. 

As Australia search for a winning combination ahead of next year's World Cup in the UK, the ODI side is likely to be boosted by the returns of suspended pair Smith and David Warner for the quadrennial tournament.

Between now and the World Cup, Smith will continue to play Premier Cricket and T20 cricket in the UAE, but not the KFC Big Bash League, as his ban precludes him from competing in Australian domestic competitions.

But Starc said there was no lunchtime talk about Smith's ban being reduced, only what his playing schedule looks like. 

"There wasn't heaps (of talk) about the immediate future," Starc said. 

"There was a little bit of talk about World Cup time and some line-ups there as well.

"I think he'd love to play in the Big Bash League. Obviously, that's not the case at the moment. 

"I think it's just great to see him playing cricket. That (UAE T20) will be quite a challenging tournament with some big names over there. 

"He'll look to try and dominate and look to get some competitive cricket coming in to the back end of March."