Steve Smith is making a case for himself to open the innings in T20 cricket, and boy is he making it strong! The former Australian captain’s century against the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL was a masterclass in batting and showed us just how comfortable and confident he is at the top of the order. He’s quoted as saying ‘I like it up top, who wouldn’t want to open in T20 cricket?’ and it’s clear to see why. The freedom and lack of fielding restrictions that come with opening the innings is something Smith relishes, and it’s evident in his performances.
However, it’s not just this match-winning century that’s got everyone talking, it’s his recent return to T20 cricket in the BBL that’s had everyone taking notice. With an impressive 36 off 27 balls on a difficult SCG wicket, followed by a 56-ball century, he’s showing us that he’s still one of the best batsmen in the world.
It’s worth noting that Smith was left out of the Australian T20 World Cup team for most of the tournament last year, only appearing in the final group game against Afghanistan, where he scored just four runs. But his recent performances in the BBL have been nothing short of outstanding, raising questions about the selectors’ decision to opt for the hard-hitting but inexperienced Tim David in the middle order.
One thing is for sure, if Steve Smith continues to perform at this level, he’ll be making it very hard for the selectors to ignore him when it comes to the T20 format.
