STEVE Smith showed a couple of months ago that his T20 career is well and truly alive with some incredible knocks in the BBL.
(Cricket Australia)
Steve Smith returned to the Big Bash League (BBL) a couple of months ago with a blast. Following test series' against the West Indies and South Africa, Smith as well as his Australian teammates were able to return to the BBL. The addition of quality cricketers benefited respective BBL clubs, none more so than the Sydney Sixers.
During the T20 World Cup in October of last year, Smith was overlooked by Australian selectors, only managing one game towards the end of the tournament. After a very disappointing tournament by Australia, where they failed to make the finals, many past cricketers criticised the move to leave Smith out of the side.
Mark Taylor was critical of Australia’s selection calls post World Cup.
“As we’ve seen in this tournament, pitches have done a bit, you need someone like a Steve Smith," he said.
“They (Australia) went into the tournament saying they were going to play fearless cricket, which is great, but I think preferring Tim David over Steve Smith in that batting order has been a mistake.”
The superstar batsman has shaken off the heartache of being overlooked in the World Cup, returning to the BBL in stunning fashion.
In his first BBL match for three years, Smith gave a glimpse of his short-form talent, with a classy 36.
In the matches that followed, Smith remarkably hit unprecedented back-to-back centuries. In these games he showed a ridiculous ability to hit sixes, displaying power that many thought he no longer possessed.
Smith’s brilliant form saw him accumulate 328 runs at a whopping average of 109. He also leads the competition in total sixes hit, accumulating 25 from just five games.
It begs the question, why was Smith overlooked for the World Cup? Given his current form and the remarkable consistency he has shown for Australia across all formats, it is very hard to come up with a legitimate reason.
This impressive form led the Sydney Sixers to six straight victories, propelling the four-time champions to a second-place finish before they were heartbreakingly knocked out in uncharacteristic fashion.
Smith has proven the doubters wrong, just when it appeared that his T20 career was dying. He looks set to be recalled to the T20 International side for upcoming series later in the year and is in serious consideration to open the batting alongside other superstars of Australian cricket.
Unfortunately for the Sydney Sixers, Smith was not available for the Sixers' crucial match against the Brisbane Heat, as the four-time champions were knocked out of the BBL.
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