Steve Smith. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Steve Smith was left out of Australia’s 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2024 in June in the West Indies and the USA. The Men in Yellow, led by Mitchell Marsh, were ousted in the Super Eight stage after suffering consecutive defeats to Afghanistan and India.
Smith, who is one of Australia’s finest batters of all time, couldn’t find a spot in the squad as the selectors preferred players who are more adept in power-hitting. The 35-year-old admitted that he understood the management’s decision to back the power hitters over him.
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“In terms of international T20s, I don’t know what’s going on there. They’ve obviously got some people they want to bring in, and that’s fine. I understood the way that they wanted to stack up for the World Cup, with all the strong guys that smack it miles. I understood that. I’m not that fussed. I’ll just go about my business, keep trying to improve and get better,” Smith said about his omission from the T20 World Cup squad while speaking to Fox Cricket.
Smith averaged a meagre 19 in T20Is in 2022 before returning to the format at the end of last year, after an impressive showing in the Big Bash League (BBL). However, in four matches, he could only accumulate 86 runs at an average of 21.50. His abysmal returns didn’t help his cause as he was subsequently left out of the World Cup squad.
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The former Australian captain has played 67 T20Is and scored 1,094 runs from 55 innings at an average of 24.86 and a strike rate of 125.46. Smith has expressed his interest in playing the Indian Premier League once again. His last appearance in the cash-rich franchise league came in October 2021. Since then, the Sydney-born has worked as an analyst during the IPL but intends to toss his name in the auction ahead of the 2025 edition.