Hailed as one of the finest batters in Australian and global cricket history, Steve Smith has made an indelible mark in Tests and ODIs over his illustrious 15-year career. However, his impact in the T20 format has not mirrored the monumental success he's achieved in longer formats.
Despite a memorable spell with back-to-back centuries in the Big Bash League for Sydney Sixers in January 2023, Smith's T20 record, outside these exceptional innings, includes just one other century. This was a blistering 54-ball 101 he scored for the Pune Supergiants during the 2016 Indian Premier League season.
Steve Smith's limited success in T20s
Over 217 T20 innings, Smith boasts three centuries and 24 half-centuries, with an average of 30.79 and a strike rate of 127.76. Yet, when it comes to international T20s, his numbers slightly dip with an average of 24.86 and a strike rate of 125.45, alongside only five fifties from 55 innings.
The speculation around Smith's T20 prowess was in the spotlight during Australia's clean sweep in a three-match series in New Zealand. There, Smith, opening in the second and third games, managed scores of 11 and 4, which did little to quell the debate.
Mitchell Johnson questions Steve Smith's motives
Mitchell Johnson, the former Australian fast bowler, opined that Smith's recent T20 outings were attempts to bolster his selection chances for the upcoming T20 World Cup, with a hidden agenda in mind.
"I wonder if international T20 cricket is something he really wants to play," Johnson wrote for The Nightly.
"Of course, he will most likely play in a few different leagues around the world when his Test career is over and so maybe there is a dangling carrot in that he wants to perform at international level and at a World Cup to boost his chances of playing in leagues where he can earn himself big pay cheques," he added.
After going unsold in the last IPL auction, Smith is eyeing a route back into the limelight, potentially as an injury replacement ahead of the World Cup in July. This move is seen as a crucial opportunity for Smith to reaffirm his capabilities in the T20 format and dispel any lingering doubts about his versatility across cricket's various formats.
As Smith's career progresses, his endeavors in T20 cricket remain a fascinating subplot to an otherwise stellar career, showcasing a relentless pursuit of excellence and adaptation across all formats of the game.
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