IPL 2018: 3 ideal replacements for Smith if he is not allowed to play this season

Today Cricket Australia' boss James Sutherland will hear the results of the investigation conducted by team performance head Pat Howard and integrity chief Iain Roy on the ball tampering scandal.

After hearing them he will announce the punishment for him in a press conference. ICC has already banned Smith for one Test and fined him.

Ajinkya Rahane has already replaced Smith as Rajasthan Royal's captain for this season's IPL.

This decision by Cricket Australia following investigation and interviewing of the players could translate into the ban for the players involved in the scandal.

This could also impact his participation in this year's IPL. BCCI and IPL council has to take a call on that issue. If he is banned from this year's IPL, his franchise would need replacements.

Here are the three possible replacements for the Australian Captain.

---

#3 Shaun Marsh

Marsh was the first Orange cap winner in the IPL

Shaun Marsh was a revelation when he first appeared in the IPL in 2008. He is a good stroke player with a fine technique who has been treated unfairly despite his consistent performances when given opportunity.

He was not properly utilised by Kings XI Punjab in the last few seasons of IPL due to Maxwell's inclusion in the squad.

He could be a very good middle order option for Rajasthan in the absence of Smith. In his debut season, he scored 616 runs in 11 matches at a mind-blowing average of 68.44.

His overall average of about 40 only shows that he has always been consistent in IPL. Marsh has scored 2477 runs in 71 IPL matches at a strike rate of 132.74 which includes one hundred and 20 fifties.

#2 Colin Ingram

Ingram had a brilliant Natwest T20 Blast season

If Rajasthan needs a middle order attacking batsman, Colin Ingram is their man. He is a very experienced T20 player who has scored 4229 runs in 170 matches and has scored three centuries and 25 fifties in those 170 matches.

Ingram also bowls some decent leg spin and has taken 31 wickets at an economy rate of 7.61.

He was in a good form in the recently completed Natwest T20 blast and scored 502 runs in the 2016 T20 Blast season, hitting 29 sixes.

In 2017, he scored two T20 hundreds as Glamorgan reached the finals of the tournament. Ingram is a clean striker of the ball, who can play a huge role in finishing the game.

#1 Alex Carey

Carrey has been in red-hot form in recent times

Alex Carey could prove to be the ideal replacement for Smith.

Carrey is a good wicket-keeper batsman who was the second highest scorer in 2017-18 BBL season.

He scored 443 runs in 11 matches including a hundred at a strike rate of 141.53. He is an attacking batsman and is in red hot form.

The best thing about Carrey is that he could bat anywhere and can even open the innings for his team.

He could also play as a lower order batsman to finish the game by his pinch hitting. Carrey could be a good addition for Rajasthan as they need a player who can adapt to the situation.