Steve Smith Misses History Amid ‘Outrageous’ BBL Madness
Since the end of the Test series against South Africa, Smith has played three games, scoring 36, 101 and 125 not eliminated.
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In his fourth regular season game since reconnecting with the Sydney Sixers, it looked like nothing could stop Smith’s charge to a third consecutive T20 century – which is absurd for a man who couldn’t fight his way in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad.
No batter has ever hit three consecutive T20 centuries and sadly that’s still the case. Smith missed a full throw from Nathan Ellis on the leg stump and was given up for a 33-ball 66, after raising his fifty to a personal best 22 ball.
His innings saw four fours and six sixes, including a massive sweep that landed on the roof of Blundstone Arena.
Not a rated T20 player with the average for a record-breaking player as he does averaging 30.89 and a strike rate of 127.06, Smith’s cameo in the Big Bash was nothing short of what a revelation.
In just four innings, he ranked seventh on the scoring list with 328 runs at a 109.33 ERA and 180.21 strike rate. He also looted 24 sixes.
The second-best average is the Heat’s Nathan McSweeney at 59, although he’s only played three games, the second-best batting rate for a batter who’s faced over 100 balls is Tim David at 162.18.
And David and Matt Short each have the second-most sixes – 18 apiece from 13 games.
The cricketing world has watched in awe at Smith during his recent exploits and have no doubt he should be back in Australia’s T20 squad.
ABC broadcaster Corbin Middlemas tweeted: ‘When Australia pick their next T20 team in August against South Africa… who are Steve Smith’s ten other partners?
Phil Rothfield of The Daily Telegraph said: “Leaving Steve Smith out of the T20 World Cup squad ranks alongside the biggest selection mistakes in Australian sporting history”.
Mirror English journalist James Whaling said: “Few finer things in sport than a batsman of the caliber of Steve Smith in form like this. Hopefully all of his races will be out of the way before the summer,”
1 News New Zealand sports journalist Guy Heveldt says: ‘Steve Smith is outrageous atm’.
Australian great Lisa Shalekar added: “Should Steve Smith be automatically selected the next time Aus plays T20 cricket?”
But while Smith was amazing, when he was dismissed on the last ball of the ninth with the score at 2/87 and heading for over 200, the Hurricanes were able to bring him back, limiting the Sixers to 7/180, with Ben 14-ball 30 from Dwarshuis and Moises Henriques 16-ball 23 helping the team to the score.
