Australia’s chairman of selectors, George Bailey, has confirmed that Steve Smith would be opening the batting for Australia during the T20I series against South Africa.
Smith made waves in the BBL 2023 season, showcasing his exceptional batting prowess while opening for the Sydney Sixers. His performances have been nothing short of extraordinary, earning him a spot in the BBL’s official team of the tournament after playing just five matches.
Smith’s return to the BBL was marked by a series of sensational innings that left fans and critics alike in awe. He averaged an impressive 86.5 runs and became the first player to hit a century for the Sixers, not once but twice. His powerful batting also saw him finish the regular season with the most sixes of any player in the tournament.
In one particularly memorable match against the Hobart Hurricanes, Smith delivered a “brutal” knock of 66 runs off just 33 balls. Opening the batting for the fourth consecutive T20 match, he smashed four fours and six sixes, leaving the Hurricanes’ bowling attack helpless. This performance took his four-match BBL12 runs tally to 328, ranking him seventh overall in the competition.
Smith’s strike rate of 180.21 across these games ranked first in the BBL, demonstrating his impeccable timing, power, and class at the crease.
This has now helped Smith grab the opener’s spot for the T20I series against South Africa, as confirmed by the Chairman of selectors Bailey. The former Australia captain said, as quoted by Fox Cricket, that they wanted to give the batting star the opportunity to open.
Bailey said that they wanted to see Smith’s BBL 2023 heroics being repeated in international games as well.
“He’s the one guy out of that multi-format players heading across (for the T20s). We wanted to give him that opportunity,” Bailey explained.
“It was pretty exhilarating, his innings in the Big Bash, and I thought it highlighted the skill set he has and what he can do. The way he played in the Big Bash, we wanted to see that replicated internationally.
“He was really keen to come across and be a part of that. That may mean he has a rest through a couple of the one-dayers (against South Africa).
“Certainly excited to see him bring that Big Bash opening outlook into that role internationally.”
