Steven Smith
- Date of Birth 1989-6-2
- Role top-order batter
- Batting Style right-hand bat
- Bowling Style legbreak googly
Debut Matches
| Format | Match | Date |
|---|---|---|
| TEST | AUS vs PAK | 2010-07-13 |
| ODI | AUS vs WI | 2010-02-19 |
| T20 | AUS vs PAK | 2010-02-05 |
Recent Performances
Batting Statistics
Matches
121
Innings
216
Runs
10580
Average
55.97
Strike Rate
53.8
Highest Score
239
100s
36
50s
44
Fours
1152
Sixes
66
Catches
210
Bowling Statistics
Matches
121
Innings
62
Wickets
19
Average
53.05
Economy
4.11
Strike Rate
77.3
Best Figure
3/18
4 Wickets
0
5 Wickets
0
Balls Bowled
1470
Runs Conceded
1008
Batting Statistics
Matches
170
Innings
154
Runs
5800
Average
43.28
Strike Rate
86.96
Highest Score
164
100s
12
50s
35
Fours
521
Sixes
58
Catches
90
Bowling Statistics
Matches
170
Innings
40
Wickets
28
Average
34.67
Economy
5.41
Strike Rate
38.4
Best Figure
3/16
4 Wickets
0
5 Wickets
0
Balls Bowled
1076
Runs Conceded
971
Batting Statistics
Matches
67
Innings
55
Runs
1094
Average
24.86
Strike Rate
125.45
Highest Score
90
100s
0
50s
5
Fours
96
Sixes
26
Catches
41
Bowling Statistics
Matches
67
Innings
17
Wickets
17
Average
22.17
Economy
7.77
Strike Rate
17.1
Best Figure
3/20
4 Wickets
0
5 Wickets
0
Balls Bowled
291
Runs Conceded
377
Batting Statistics
Matches
220
Innings
202
Runs
7873
Average
46.31
Strike Rate
87.9
Highest Score
164
100s
15
50s
50
Fours
680
Sixes
109
Catches
119
Bowling Statistics
Matches
220
Innings
69
Wickets
47
Average
39.14
Economy
5.43
Strike Rate
43.1
Best Figure
3/16
4 Wickets
0
5 Wickets
0
Balls Bowled
2030
Runs Conceded
1840
Batting Statistics
Matches
266
Innings
236
Runs
5943
Average
31.95
Strike Rate
129.95
Highest Score
125*
100s
4
50s
28
Fours
511
Sixes
172
Catches
149
Bowling Statistics
Matches
266
Innings
52
Wickets
54
Average
19.55
Economy
7.68
Strike Rate
15.2
Best Figure
4/13
4 Wickets
2
5 Wickets
0
Balls Bowled
824
Runs Conceded
1056
In a career of twists and turns, Steven Smith started out as a legspinner and become Australia's best batter since Sir Donald Bradman, either side of having his career derailed by a ball-tampering scandal that saw him stripped of the captaincy and banned for 12 months.
The rise from that controversy at Newlands in 2018 was near-miraculous: Smith returned to Test cricket with a 774-run Ashes series in 2019, and pictures of him in tears at Sydney airport after his return in disgrace from South Africa were replaced in the popular memory with those of triumphant celebrations of centuries. Part of his punishment for Cape Town was being banned from any leadership position for two years, but once he served that penance, in late 2021 he was named Pat Cummins' vice-captain and a few weeks later led the side against England when Cummins was ruled out of a Test by Covid.
After the run-scoring feats of his comeback series, runs became somewhat harder for Smith (although the reduction in output was all relative) as bowlers looked to shut down his scoring areas, something New Zealand's Neil Wagner had particular success doing. Still, he would usually find a way to contribute and from July 2022 to June 2023 made five centuries in 13 innings to take his overall tally to 32, leaving only Ricky Ponting ahead of him as he closed in on 10,000 runs.
Smith began his Test career in 2010 as a legspinner who batted at No. 8; by the time he was named Australia's captain five years later, he was the No. 1 Test batter in the world and no more than an occasional bowler. His talent was apparent early, but as a young batter he had more moving parts than an orchestra - only, they didn't always work in harmony. He went away and worked on his game and returned to the Test side two years later with a much tighter technique. He still fidgeted between balls but could play every shot in the book, and a few others that defied words besides. Quick-footed and adept at facing spin, he is equally comfortable driving and pulling the fast bowlers.
When he was appointed Australia's 45th Test captain, Smith was filling in for the injured Michael Clarke in three Tests. That was during a markedly purple patch, even by his standards: he produced six hundreds in eight Tests then, against India, West Indies and England. Despite being only 25 at the time, the extra responsibility clearly didn't hamper his run-making, and Smith cemented his spot when Clarke retired at the end of the 2015 Ashes in England.
As Smith's batting developed, his bowling became less frequently sighted, although he could still land the odd fizzing legbreak and winkle out a wicket or two. In the field his athleticism and instinct stand out, even in a high-quality fielding side like Australia. He has also been a key man in Australia's ODI side, was his country's leading run-scorer in their triumphant 2015 World Cup campaign, and became captain in all three formats before his career was turned upside down.
Talked about less as a T20 cricket, and moved aside by Australia ahead of the 2024 World Cup, he still has a good record in the format which was highlighted by back-to-back BBL hundreds for Sydney Sixers in 2023. His previous T20 hundred had been for Rising Pune Supergiants in the 2016 IPL.