Australia’s mainstay Steve Smith could have played for England but rejected ‘massive’ offer

Australian cricket team captain Steven Smith leaves the field after being dismissed by West Indies bowler Carlos Brathwaite during their One Day International match of the Tri-nation Series at the Warner Park stadium in Basseterre, Saint Kitts, on June 13, 2016. / AFP / Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

In the world of cricket, Steve Smith stands as one of Australia’s greatest-ever batters, amassing over 15,000 international runs across all formats. However, fans will be quite surprised to know that Smith, the Australian hero and cricket sensation, could have easily been donning the English jersey instead. The veteran batter’s unique story begins with his family background. His mother, Gillian, hails from England, thereby giving him a potential advantage of dual citizenship.

Notably, during his early cricketing years, Smith found himself playing club cricket for Sevenoaks Vine in the Kent league. Both Kent and Surrey were keen to have him, back when he was considered more of a leg-spinner, who could bat to some extent. Paul Farbrace, who would later serve as England’s assistant coach, was overseeing Kent’s academy at the time.

“He got runs, fielded brilliantly, took an unbelievable diving catch at backward point, and bowled some decent leg spin,” Farbace recalled Smith’s early promise as reported by Daily Mail in 2019.

Smith’s potential was evident, and Farbrace was keen to offer him a contract. However, Smith’s father had other ideas and firmly denied him the opportunity to consider English cricket.

“No, he’s going to play for Australia,” Smith’s father, Peter, intervened firmly with his opinion.

The then Surrey coach, Alan Butcher, had extended a highly lucrative three-year contract offer to Steve Smith, leaving the young cricketer shocked. However, Smith’s heart was set on representing his homeland, Australia. He writes in his autobiography, ‘The Journey,’

Reflecting on his decision, Smith affirmed his allegiance, that he feels more closely connected with Australia than his mother’s influence which was on the English soil. Furthermore, the Australian legend did not miss out on iterating that it was his love for Australia all the way. In the end, Smith’s unwavering dedication to the green and gold paid off. He made his debut for Australia in 2010, and the rest, as they say, is history.

“Once the initial shock passed, it wasn’t a tough decision to turn it down. I discussed it with Tony Ward, and he summed it up pretty well from my perspective. He said I was Australian, I’d grown up in Australia, and I wanted to play for Australia. Mum has still got an English accent. The roots are there, but my allegiance is to Australia. For me, it was always Australia. That was my home and where I wanted to play,” Smith stated during the Ashes 2023 tour.

New South Wales got luckier, Smith looking good in opening game of ODI World Cup 2023

Surrey also recognized Steve Smith’s talent, thanks to a recommendation from former player Nadeem Shahid. Smith impressed in two Second XI matches for the county, but the cricketing landscape was different then. “Back then he was being talked about maybe as the next Shane Warne,” recalls former England bowler Stuart Meaker, who played alongside Smith for Surrey’s Second XI.

“Surrey offered him a pretty decent contract, and because he had an English family, he could have played here. But New South Wales wanted him back. And he’s Australian, after all,” Meaker added.

Speaking of his current game, Australia are playing against India in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 in Chennai, in their opening game of the mega event. A lot of responsibility will be on his shoulders if Australia were to have any solid chance against the hosts. At this moment, Steve Smith is looking good and has played a vigilant knock of 35 runs off 49 balls in the 20th over of the game, after Australia chose to bat first against Team India.