Last Update on: August 7th, 2023 at 03:13 pm
A sensational performance in the last edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) has helped Steve Smith get the chance to open the innings for Australia in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa.
His T20I career looked as good as over after Australia crashed out of the T20 World Cup last year. During the competition, Tim David was preferred ahead of him. The senior batsman played just one match in the tournament in which he scored run-a-ball four runs. However, Steve Smith has managed to revive his T20I career with a sizzling performance in the BBL.
The former Australia captain has been named in the squad for the three-match series against South Africa. The series is scheduled to begin on August 30. Playing for Sydney Sixers, he smashed back-to-back centuries in the last edition of the BBL.
Steve Smith smashed 101 off 56 balls against the Adelaide Strikes before scoring an unbeaten 125 off 66 against the Sydney Thunder. He played only 5 games in BBL and smashed a staggering 346 runs at an average of 87 and a strike rate of almost 175.
Steve Smith to open for Australia:
While announcing Australia’s T20I squad for the series against South Africa, chair of selectors George Bailey confirmed that Steve Smith would open the innings for the team. It will be the first time that Steve Smith would open in a T20I match for Australia. So far, he has batted everywhere from No. 3 to No. 9 in his 63-match T20I career.
“He’s the one guy out of that multi-format players heading across (for the T20s). We wanted to give him that opportunity,” Bailey said.
“It was pretty exhilarating, his innings in the Big Bash, and I thought it highlighted the skill set he has and what he can do. The way he played in the Big Bash, we wanted to see that replicated internationally.
“He was really keen to come across and be a part of that. That may mean he has a rest through a couple of the one-dayers (against South Africa). Certainly excited to see him bring that Big Bash opening outlook into that role internationally,” he added.
With Aaron Finch retiring earlier this year, Australia are looking for an opening partner for David Warner ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup. Apart from Steve Smith, the likes of Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, and Marcus Stoinis have emerged as candidates to open the batting too.
