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Smith 'spent four days in tears' after scandal

Former skipper opens up to Sydney school students as David Warner returns to NSW's pre-season training

David Warner has taken his first steps toward cricketing redemption at pre-season training with NSW after it was confirmed he and Steve Smith will make their on-field comebacks in Canada.

Smith and Warner were among the players snapped up in Sunday's inaugural draft for the Global T20 Canada, a tournament that will be hosted on the outskirts of Toronto.

Later on Monday, Warner posted a photo of himself preparing for a 2km time trial in Sydney alongside some of his NSW Blues teammates, who returned to work following their off-season break.

"Great to get back into it today with @cricketnsw was awesome to be in and amongst the lads," he wrote.

While Warner was training at Centennial Park in Sydney, Smith was a special guest at Knox Grammar boys school in Sydney's north and spoke to students about his work with mental health charity Gotcha 4 Life.

In audio from his speech obtained by the Seven Network, Smith opened up about the days following the ball-tampering scandal and urged the students to share their emotions.

"To be honest, I probably spent four days in tears," Smith said of the days following the Cape Town Test.

"I was really struggling mentally.

"It certainly was the toughest thing that I’ve had to do.

"It's about teaching everyone that ... as a man, it's OK to show emotion."

Warner and Smith, both stripped of their leadership positions and estimated to have lost at least $5 million each in sponsorship and playing contracts, remain banned from international cricket until March.

The suspensions also cover domestic T20, one-day and first-class cricket in Australia but, along with Cameron Bancroft, they are free to play in domestic leagues around the world.

They are also free to train with their state sides.

Smith has already been spotted in the indoor nets at the SCG, while Test quicks Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will soon ramp up their rehabilitation from injuries alongside the Smith and Warner at the Blues.

The Canadian Twenty20 event, which runs June 28-July 15, will be Warner and Smith's first taste of competitive cricket since the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town.

Warner will travel to Darwin after his stint in Toronto, having already signed up to play a couple of one-day games in the NT's Strike League.

Smith is, at this stage, expected to continue training privately before playing T20 cricket with the Toronto Nationals in Canada.

Warner and Smith have both agreed to play grade cricket in Sydney this summer, when they will represent Randwick-Petersham and Sutherland respectively.

Pakistan pace icon Waqar Younis will coach Warner at Winnipeg, while Smith's Nationals are being mentored by former West Indies coach Phil Simmons.