Steve Smith in MLC for Washington Freedom. Image Credits: Cricket Australia
Steve Smith played an outrageous knock in Eliminator 1 against MI New York in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026. He scored 110 runs in 48 deliveries, including seven boundaries and nine maximums, at a strike rate of 229.17.
His knock helped Washington Freedom chase down the highest total ever in T20s. After chasing 267 with eight balls to spare, the Freedom went closer to the final, with Smith remaining unbeaten during the chase.
How Steve Smith has put consistent shows in MLC
Unlike the other two formats, Steve Smith has not been as consistent in T20s. However, he has performed exceedingly well in Major League Cricket, where he has shone as a batter and captain.
Smith has 684 runs at an average of 45.60 and a strike rate of 138.46 in 20 innings. He also has four fifties and a century.
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Smith made a tremendous start to the tournament in 2024, smashing 336 runs at an average of 56 and a strike rate of 148.67 across nine outings. He also hit a boundary every 5.13 deliveries.
Later, he skipped the previous edition due to his excessive workload. But the Aussie great has returned with a bang and has already scored more runs than in the 2024 season.
Steve Smith has been consistent in MLC
Under his captaincy, Washington Freedom have also found ample success, winning their only title in 2024. Smith played a match-winning 88-run knock in the final against the San Francisco Unicorns.
Now, the Freedom have again looked strong in the competition this season on the back of big performers like Andries Gous and Mitchell Owen. Smith has led the way and seems to have found his T20 touch again, that too at the fag end of his career.
Smith’s contrasting T20 returns
Steve Smith’s T20 career is intriguing. He has not been at his best in T20Is and several other leagues, except the BBL.
Overall, the Aussie batter has 6970 runs at an average of 33.03 and a strike rate of 132.66 in 264 innings in his T20 career. He also has 33 fifties and seven centuries.
However, his average and strike rate fall sharply when his BBL and MLC numbers are excluded. Smith averages a mere 29.01 and strikes at just 127.10 across 205 innings outside these two competitions.
Steve Smith has excelled in MLC and BBL
His numbers for Australia were also unconvincing. He scored 1094 runs at a tepid average of 24.86 and a strike rate of 125.45 in 55 innings, including five half-centuries.
Hence, Smith was dropped from the national team, even though he made a comeback here and there. However, MLC has proven a massive success in his otherwise limited T20 career, with his strike rate and boundary metrics rising to levels close to what’s expected in modern-day cricket.
How Steve Smith has kept his Olympic dream alive
A major reason Steve Smith has been actively involved in the Major League Cricket is his desire to represent Australia at the 2028 Olympics. He has expressed his desire to participate in the tournament set in the United States.
“I would like to play at the Olympics; I reckon that would be cool. We’ll see how far I go in terms of long-form cricket. But I am going to play short-form cricket for a while, I think, when I do finish, you never know,” Smith told Fox Sports in 2025.
That’s why he also signed for Multan Sultans in PSL 2026 and has kept himself in rhythm in this format. The MLC is a clear path towards that dream, since it’s the biggest cricketing tournament in the US.
Fortunately for Steve Smith, his performances have been up to the mark in familiar conditions, which will surely help his case. At the moment, Australia’s T20I options are limited, with multiple players out of the picture.
That’s also why they were eliminated even before the Super 8 stage at the T20 World Cup 2026. Smith will still need to keep performing across multiple T20 leagues, since his selection for Australia remains uncertain.
However, he’s leaving no stone unturned to keep himself prepared for the 2028 Olympics. And given his superior credentials, Steve Smith might well achieve his dream before ending his career.
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