Steve Smith

Having broken into the Australian team in 2010, Steve Smith found it very tough to keep his place in the squad with his inconsistent spin bowling performances. He made his debut as an 18-year-old rookie leg-spinner when Aussie cricket was not at its best and was going through a phase of transition. Smith later became one of the finest to represent the country ever. 

Rewind to 2013, Steve Smith had returned with a genuinely improved technique and most importantly - a good defence and shots against moving balls. The Ashes 2013 in England, which otherwise was a debacle for Australia, proved to be the point of no return for Smith as he scored his maiden Test century in the final Test at the Oval. The Ashes was quickly followed by a return Ashes series Down Under, where Smith impressed again with important and notable contributions with the bat when the team were in trouble.

The South Africa tour that followed the Ashes 2013-14 added another feather to Smith’s cap as he partnered with Shaun Marsh to dismantle a bowling lineup that included Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel. Series after series and matches after matches, Smith ended up consolidating his domination at the top of the rankings of ICC Test batting.

Smith also played a fine hand during Australia’s triumph in the ICC World Cup 2015. Batting at number 3, he scored 402 runs in seven innings, amassing four fifties and a century against India in the semifinal at the SCG. Moreover, he ended the tournament as Australia’s leading run-getter. 

In 2017, he hit a Test century against India on a Pune pitch that turned square from day one, establishing his reputation of being a batter for all pitches, conditions and against any bowling lineup.

A career that was on a steep upward curve was halted by a poor decision of ball tampering taken under his watch against South Africa in 2018, which saw him facing a ban for a year.

As the ban ended, Smith made a resounding comeback against his favourite opponent, England, in the Ashes 2019, virtually standing as a lone man between the English side and the coveted urn. He single-handedly thwarted the bowling lineup of Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes. He ended up scoring a mammoth 774 runs from 4 matches he played with a Bradmanesque average of 110.57.

In 2020, during the first ODI match against India at home, Smith brought up his hundred in just 62 deliveries as Australia went on to win that match easily. In the second ODI, he again scored a 62-ball ton and helped Australia win the match by 51 runs, and he was awarded the player of the match for his scintillating performance. 

Later in that summer, Smith struggled in the first two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar series, but the Sydney-born roared back with a majestic ton in the third Test match at his home ground. He scored 131 in the first innings and looked comfortable against the Indian bowling line-up.

In the IPL, Smith has not had a dominating run of form as he has had with the Australian side in Tests and ODIs. The 2017 season with the then Rising Pune Supergiant was the most successful season for Smith, who scored 472 runs from 15 matches.

In IPL 2020, Smith started off well, but in the second half of the tournament, he struggled a lot with his timing as the Rajasthan Royals finished 8th in the points table. 

Ahead of the 2021 IPL auction, Smith was released by the Rajasthan Royals. He was eventually roped in by 2020’s runner-up, Delhi Capitals, for INR 2.2 crore.

Arguably the best Test batter at present, Smith has come a long way in his international career. From being compared to Shane Warne in his initial days, to now producing numbers equivalent to the great Don Bradman, his career redemption is a story for the ages. 

Moreover, the Test Great also played a remarkable hand during Australia's victory over India in the World Test Championship Final 2023, hitting a flawless 121 by building a fine partnership with Travis Head when the Aussies were restricted to 76/3 in the first innings.

2021–2023: Leadership Return & International Success

In November 2021, Smith was reappointed vice-captain of the Australian Test team ahead of the 2021–22 Ashes series. The following month, he briefly returned as Test captain when Pat Cummins was ruled out due to COVID-19 for the second Test in Adelaide, which he led Australia to victory.

Smith was also part of Australia’s squad for the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he played a floating role in the batting order, scoring 69 runs at a strike rate of 97.18 as Australia won the tournament.

In March 2023, Smith took over ODI captaincy duties as a stand-in captain, leading Australia in 13 ODIs, securing series wins against India (2022–23), West Indies (2023–24), and England (2024).

2022–2024: Big Bash Dominance & Major League Cricket

In December 2022, Smith rejoined the Sydney Sixers on a two-year contract and made an immediate impact. He was promoted to open the batting in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the first time, scoring a century (101 off 56 balls) against Adelaide Strikers, followed by a 125 off 66 balls against Sydney Thunder*.

By December 2023, he was available for only two matches in BBL13 but still delivered a match-winning 61 off 42 balls against the Melbourne Renegades.

In July 2024, Smith captained Washington Freedom to the Major League Cricket (MLC) title, playing a match-winning innings of 88 off 52 balls in the final. Head coach Ricky Ponting praised Smith, stating that he almost won the game single-handedly with both his batting and captaincy. In August 2024, Smith signed a three-year contract with the Sydney Sixers.

In December 2024, he was available for BBL14 and continued his dominance. He scored his third BBL century, smashing 121 off 64 balls against the Perth Scorchers, followed by a match-winning 52 off 31 balls against the Strikers. Smith currently holds the record for the equal-most BBL centuries (3) and has the highest batting average among Australians in the tournament’s history.

2025: Test Milestones, Captaincy & ODI Retirement

In January 2025, during the New Year’s Test at the SCG, Smith was on the brink of joining the 10,000 Test run club but fell one run short in his second innings. However, he reached the milestone shortly afterwards in Sri Lanka, becoming the fastest Australian to achieve 10,000 Test runs.

For the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy (2024–25) in Sri Lanka, Smith was appointed Test captain. In the first Test at Galle, he scored 141 off 251 balls, leading Australia to an innings victory. In the second Test, he surpassed Ricky Ponting’s record for most Test catches by an Australian (197).

He became Australia’s leading Test run-scorer in Asia after registering his 36th Test century. Under his captaincy, Australia won the series 2-0, securing their first Test series victory in Sri Lanka since 2011. He was named Player of the Series, amassing 272 runs at an average of 136.00.

In January 2025, Smith was included in Australia’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy and was expected to bat at No.3. However, following Pat Cummins’ withdrawal, he was named captain of the side, a role he had previously held in the 2017 edition of the tournament.

After Australia’s semi-final loss to India, Smith announced his retirement from ODI cricket on March 5, 2025, marking the end of his illustrious 50-over career.

Legacy

Steve Smith has been a key figure in Australian cricket, playing a crucial role in multiple global triumphs. He was part of Australia’s winning squads in the 2015 and 2023 Cricket World Cups, the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and served as vice-captain in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final. 

Steve Smith’s career has been defined by resilience, leadership, and adaptability. Whether as a Test captain, a T20 power-hitter, or a dominant ODI batsman, he has left an indelible mark on Australian cricket. With his continued presence in Test cricket and franchise leagues, his legacy is far from over.

(As of March 2025)