A majority of us who stuff-up somehow are surely entitled to a second chance.

And this guy must by now have earned a reprieve from at least a significant proportion of the population..

From the moment of that media conference after the South African expose, with his father in the wings, Smith showed he was remorseful.

It looked like a classic example of a genuine sort of person who had been thrust into a role without the greater experiences of life - and who got it wrong.

Too many sporting child prodigies have their careers expedited without the additional sort of learnings that come with the slower progress made in other jobs, trades and professions.

It doesn't mean that a degree is required - it might just be a lot better if they were exposed more often to life outside the cocoon.

It's too easy in a tiny bubble with not too many others around of a different ilk to determine that a belief or course of action is acceptable when your peers might all be agreeing with you.

As an aside that makes a footballer like Brodie Grundy a stand-out. His determination to pursue a tertiary course while playing football at the top level and, as he reiterated in the excellent ABC documentary on Collingwood Football Club during the week, to "be a better person" sets him apart.

He's of course not the only one but his position emphasises the importance of balance.

But back to Smith and his rehabilitation - and in particular his stunning form in the current Ashes series.

It's important that it's not merely his extraordinary accumulation of runs that makes us forgive - and for the most part forget.

For that would be a bad example to everyone else - particularly those who look up to him as a role model, albeit one with the odd flaw.

Smith has copped the indignation of his fellow countrymen and women as well as the inevitable caning by those of other nations. Even now when the over-reaction of the English crowds in particular has gone on way too long, he has worn that too.

But equally clearly he has worked hard on that which he can control - his batting. Along with his general contrition he has let that do the talking.

He has always been a fidgetter before taking stance but he has returned from exile with a whole bag of new quirks that squawk out focus and process.

Out in the middle - but importantly only when batting - the former Aussie captain looks like he is in a world of his own. It seems he only engages with anything beyond to assess each delivery and then avoid as many fielders as possible once he hits it.

What happens now when Smith decides there's no run to be had was initially a matter for our fascination but now to our delight.

Whatever prompted this repertoire of bizarre and uncomfortable swings and swirls has probably been an important part of Smith's rehabilitation.

However a note of caution if indeed parents, teachers and coaches are ready to give the all-clear to Smith resuming the mantle of role model.

It's not hard to imagine that boys and girls all over the country are now working on their Steve Smith crazy bat twirls. The risk for them is that they might too easily invoke them a fraction to early - only to find the ball cannoning into their stumps or flying through to the slips or the keeper.

There's every chance that there's once again a lot of love out there for Smith.

He's proven he can be a fast learner. Despite his stated reluctance to use them in the past, he's donned the neck guards on his batting helmet for his return to Test cricket. If they were uncomfortable, his double century at Old Trafford belied the fact.

That's unequivocally essential role model stuff.

All this from a guy who first earned selection in the national team as a leg-spinning all-rounder who had to work hard to keep his spot. Lots of synergies there with Steve Waugh - another of our finest.

His parole is probably done.