Last Update on: August 8th, 2023 at 05:25 pm
Former Australia skipper and star batsman, Michael Clarke attacked the Aussie selectors for taking a total backflip and including Steve Smith in the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa.
While speaking to Sky Sports Radio’s The Big Sports Breakfast, Michael Clarke said that he thinks it is very embarrassing for the selectors as even after keeping Smith in the World Cup squad last year, he failed to book his place in the first eleven.
“I don’t understand (Smith’s selection) … That to me is embarrassing for the selectors. They had him in the World Cup squad last year and he couldn’t make the XI. He doesn’t get a game, we go terribly in the World Cup,” Clare said on Steven Smith’s selection.
Michael Clarke while hitting out on the selectors said that the selections have been very confusing. Clarke also gave an example and said that Smith even failed to get a team in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“Selections over the past 15 months have been absolutely confusing. Smith not playing in that World Cup, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There’s just no accountability, it’s just swept under the carpet. I feel like I’m just watching a different game. I don’t know what they’re thinking with Smithy in the T20s. I don’t think he’s playing any other T20 cricket around the world. He’s not getting a gig in the IPL (Indian Premier League), didn’t get picked up there. He must still want to play, though,” Clarke further added on Steven Smith.
Should Steve Smith be trusted in T20 format cricket?
Steven Smith made his debut in 2010 against Pakistan following that he has played 63 T20 matches for the Aussies and scored 1008 runs with a strike rate of 125.22. Smith last played a T20I cricket match in 2022 against Afghanistan.
Even though Steve Smith has been out of 20-over cricket for a long time but one should not strikethrough his name from any format of cricket just because of the talent he holds in him.