[PICTURES] Why is Steve Smith so poor in T20Is?

[Joseph Gomes]

Is it lack of strength? Poor technique? Improper mindset?

Here's his stats
Mat - 51
Runs - 1008
Avg - 25.20
SR - 125.21

He's decent in ODIs so I am confused why is stats are so miserable in T20Is. He's not even an allrounder anymore, so it's hard to make excuses about workload. And he has played over 50 matches which is more than Suryakumar Yadav, so sample size is irrelevant.

And yes, there are people like ABD who were also poor in T20Is. But ABD was absolutely brilliant in regular T20, so his T20I stats can be considered outlier. But Smith is a complete dud in T20 too.

One would think the greatest test batsman of his era would be half decent in an easy format like T20, given how tests require more 'skill' and 'concentration'. So what gives?

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Is hardly poor? Walks in to Pakistan side

 

[Ab Fan]

Steven Smith is the worst T20I batsman of all-time. He is in the league of Ajinkya Rahane, Temba Bavuma and Ravindra Jadeja as batsman and a level below the likes of Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Manish Pandey, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam and Shreyas Iyer.

Comparison with ABD don't make sense. T20I was not very relevant during his time and he did set an inspiration for younger gen to take a leaf out of his game and succeed which the likes of Buttler, Surya Kumar and several others( in future like Brevis) gonna follows.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Is hardly poor? Walks in to Pakistan side

It's absolutely garbage. Smith"s stats as similar to that of Shakib, except that Shakib primarily plays on slow wickets of Bangladesh. And Mirpur pitch is very difficult to bat on compared to flat pancakes in other countries. Smith's not getting into any side except for the likes of Bangladesh (and that's also arguable)

 

[SamNJ]

He is the kind of player whose timing gets better with the number of balls faced.
Even in tests he is a bit vulnerable early but once he is set, he is a beast.
Even in ODIs, he is a very dangerous batsman once he has played 30-40 balls. Thereafter he strikes at a very good rate.
T20s don't give you that much time.
Thing with Kohli and Kane is that they play anchor role for their sides and they target to bat full overs.
Australia and England don't play T20s in that manner. That's why Smith and Root get to play very rarely.

 

[Mamoon]

This once again proves that Test cricket is not the hardest or most challenging format. If that was true, a legendary Test player like Smith would have found T20s a piece of cake.

Test cricket might be the most prestigious format, but is by no means the hardest. In fact, no format is relatively hard or easy. Each format presents a different challenge and some players are suited to one format more than the others.

The truly great players are those who excel in all three formats. They are the crème de la crème cricketers.

 

[Smudger]

He is good enough if he bats at 3. He hasn't been given a long run in t20s at 3. Has good stats at 3 and was sold for 15 cr in IPL

 

[Joseph Gomes]

He is good enough if he bats at 3. He hasn't been given a long run in t20s at 3. Has good stats at 3 and was sold for 15 cr in IPL

3 or 4 doesn't matter in T20 as the entire innings lasts for just 120 balls. Top players are expected to shuffle whenever necessary. Kohli/Buttler have played in all positions and have been equally good.

As for IPL, he hasn't done anything to fetch the amount he's been paid. So it's been a waste of money. Plenty of foreign players have been overpaid in IPL, it's routine.

 

[Advaith]

This once again proves that Test cricket is not the hardest or most challenging format. If that was true, a legendary Test player like Smith would have found T20s a piece of cake.

Test cricket might be the most prestigious format, but is by no means the hardest. In fact, no format is relatively hard or easy. Each format presents a different challenge and some players are suited to one format more than the others.

The truly great players are those who excel in all three formats. They are the crème de la crème cricketers.

Some words of wisdom there ..

 

[jnaveen1980]

Question is why. Only once i have seen in IPL playing very good cameos. He has exaggerated movements which doesn't allow him to manipulate field. In Tests he is fine with attacking field in place. His strike rate is 50 plus against all the test nations. Career SR of 54. But in T20 with field spread he is not the best guy to target certain areas he wants. it is their style of game. AB was a freak in terms of skill level. Smith is not blessed with that skill

 

[Concerned]

Anything thinking Steve is poor should have the same thought pattern when referring to Babar, Rizwan and Shan.

All of them posses similar strike rates and equally have minimal impact once set.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

He was fine in t20 cricket pre ban. Ever since his return he simply hasn't been that good in it. Even in ODIs, he has been struggling for a year and a half now. Maybe it has to do with his aging body.

He had a great 2016 wt20 batting at 3. In 2015, ABD called him the hardest batter to set fields to in LOIs.

 

[Front Foot Pull]

In last 2 years his performance dropped in tests and T20Is, increased in ODIs.
in T20Is he avgs 21 @ 113 in this period. awful.

 

[Rana]

He would average 50 if he opens

But Australia are not stupid

 

[Farabi]

This once again proves that Test cricket is not the hardest or most challenging format. If that was true, a legendary Test player like Smith would have found T20s a piece of cake.

Test cricket might be the most prestigious format, but is by no means the hardest. In fact, no format is relatively hard or easy. Each format presents a different challenge and some players are suited to one format more than the others.

The truly great players are those who excel in all three formats. They are the crème de la crème cricketers.

+1

 

[Mamoon]

[MENTION=43051]Mobashir[/MENTION]

Why do you think Virat Kohli is so much better than everyone else as an all-format batsman? As his biggest supporter, your views would be highly appreciated.

 

[Ab Fan]

Kane Williamson has stats as 32@123.

Joe Root is 35@125. Root really should have played more T20I cricket, he seemed to me more fluent than Smith and Kane. Root is like Babar, could have strike at 130-132.

 

[Joseph Gomes]

Kane Williamson has stats as 32@123.

Joe Root is 35@125. Root really should have played more T20I cricket, he seemed to me more fluent than Smith and Kane. Root is like Babar, could have strike at 130-132.

Root is possibly better than the two, but he never got more chance. Unfortunately for Root, England have a ton of good power hitters so they don't really need Root to stabilized anything, and Root doesn't fit into their game plan. Australia and NZ don't have the batting depth so they play these two.

Smith however seems to have forgotten how to even hold the bat in T20. I have seen tailenders bat better than him. His superior test skills haven't come to rescue, as the pundits predicted. Every T20 should've been a a piece of cake to him, according to some experts here

 

[jnaveen1980]

Root is possibly better than the two, but he never got more chance. Unfortunately for Root, England have a ton of good power hitters so they don't really need Root to stabilized anything, and Root doesn't fit into their game plan. Australia and NZ don't have the batting depth so they play these two.

Smith however seems to have forgotten how to even hold the bat in T20. I have seen tailenders bat better than him. His superior test skills haven't come to rescue, as the pundits predicted. Every T20 should've been a a piece of cake to him, according to some experts here

Any other country Root would have been in the starting XI. He is a great backfoot player.

 

[Mamoon]

Root’s innings against South Africa in the WT20 2016 is one of the greatest knocks in LOI history.

He is a much better player in this format than Smith, Babar, Williamson etc. It is sad to see that he has never been picked by IPL teams even though inferior players than him have played multiple seasons.

 

[PakFan2010]

[MENTION=43051]Mobashir[/MENTION]

Why do you think Virat Kohli is so much better than everyone else as an all-format batsman? As his biggest supporter, your views would be highly appreciated.

Kohli isn't a great. His record in ICC tournaments is very poor. He goes missing in semi final and finals.

Kohli's last 3 semi final scores are 9,1,1.

Smith has led Australia to a World Cup. He scored a hundred in the semi-final vs India and an unbeaten 50.

 

[Boxer]

Kohli isn't a great. His record in ICC tournaments is very poor. He goes missing in semi final and finals.

Kohli's last 3 semi final scores are 9,1,1.

Smith has led Australia to a World Cup. He scored a hundred in the semi-final vs India and an unbeaten 50.

Well kohli is selected to play in ICC tournaments just to torment Pak. They have other players for semis and Finals.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Smith cannot hit and he gets into awkward positions to generate any significant power in his shots.

In Tests, to get him out, bowlers have to bowl at the stumps or the 4th or 5th stumps. This helps him to play his favorite legside push or off side dab to get runs.

In T20's, bowlers can bowl wide yorkers, slower balls and so many varieties. He exposes his legstump each time and cannot hit when bowlers do not attack his stumps which means he cannot play his bread and butter shots. Bowlers are happy to bowl dot balls to him. He is forced to manufacture a stupid shot and he gets out caught most of the times.

 

[sweep_shot]

He is probably a bit too slow for T20. Australia have many other better T20 options than him.

 

[Mamoon]

Kohli isn't a great. His record in ICC tournaments is very poor. He goes missing in semi final and finals.

Kohli's last 3 semi final scores are 9,1,1.

Smith has led Australia to a World Cup. He scored a hundred in the semi-final vs India and an unbeaten 50.

Kohli is a LOI GOAT. He has so many achievements in his career that a few failures in ODI knockouts means nothing. In spite of this failures he has done more than 99% of the players to have played the game.

Smith has a couple of really good knockout innings in ODI World Cups but overall he is a million miles away from Kohli in LOIs.

There are holes in every career. Adam Gilchrist played 7-8 semifinals in his career and failed in every single one of them, but no one remembers now because his team was able to carry him to the final on most of the occasions and gave him a chance to redeem himself.

India have been so dependent on Kohli that they don’t make usually make the semifinals when he doesn’t fire, which means he doesn’t get a chance to redeem himself like Gilchrist did.

 

[topspin]

Root’s innings against South Africa in the WT20 2016 is one of the greatest knocks in LOI history.

He is a much better player in this format than Smith, Babar, Williamson etc. It is sad to see that he has never been picked by IPL teams even though inferior players than him have played multiple seasons.

Simply unforgettable.

It's astonishing how most Pakistan fans on here thought Babar was better than him in T20Is

 

[Bhaijaan]

He’s also poor in ODIs.

Just a test match run machine, that too a boring one.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

He is becoming equally poor in ODIs too.

His Strike Rate is a major concern for both formats.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Steve Waugh was way better in ODIs

 

[jnaveen1980]

Smith can play certain types of roles in ODI. Not all kind of roles. In current form even that role is limited

 

[Ab Fan]

He is an average LOI player who raised his performance in knockouts of world tournaments.

 

[jnaveen1980]

He is an average LOI player who raised his performance in knockouts of world tournaments.

They had a solid bowling unit with a lot of good players. He just had to spend time at crease and score runs at run a ball on a flat pitch.

 

[deltexas]

He's done now in ODI's . Should have been dropped from T20s a while back - an absolute misfir for t20s. Should just stick to tests where he is still a gun player.

 

[160KPH]

The truth is Australians don’t care about T20 at all and barely even care about ODI. They would rather win an Ashes than win a limited overs World Cup.

Steven Smith scores when it matters most in ODI - during the knockout rounds. Other than that he’s an average LOI batsmen and a lot of that is simply due to lack of motivation.

LOI is mainly a subcontinent fascination.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Out for a tonight

 

[boomboomcheema]

He is the most boring batsman I have ever seen always scoring runs while struggling and grinding. One of the reasons why I dislike Australian so much with such boring batsman available. Even Sri Lankan batsmen have Mendis, Perera have so much flair compared to Labu..

 

[FearlessRoar]

What a player

Four days after winning his 2nd ODI World Cup with Australia, Steve Smith scores a fifty in a T20I.

He has scored 52 off 41vs India in 1st T20I

 

[Hassan A]

According to Media Sources:

Australian and Sydney Sixers champion, Steve Smith, is set to return to the club again this summer for KFC BBL|13.

Sixers members and fans will have the opportunity to see the superstar in action on Friday, December 8 when the Sixers kick off their KFC BBL|13 campaign, hosting the Melbourne Renegades at the SCG.

Smith is also likely to be available for the Sydney Smash against Sydney Thunder at the same ground on January 12 in a heavyweight clash with Australian teammate David Warner.

One of the sport’s all-time greatest, Smith will don the magenta for a second consecutive year, following his explosive stint for the club last summer.

Notching 346 runs at an incredible 86.50 – striking at a whopping 174.74 – Smith quickly became one of the league’s top run-scorers, despite making just five appearances.

The 34-year-old produced two of the most entertaining performances in Big Bash history, notching back-to-back hundreds, becoming the fourth Sixer – and first male – to ever smash triple figures.

The mouth-watering clash with the Melbourne side will see Smith and his Australian teammate – former Sixer turned Renegade – Nathan Lyon face off for the first time, in what is set to be one of the most-watched battles of the summer. The Renegades will also feature their recruit, fellow world cup winner, Adam Zampa.

A member of the club since it’s inception, Smith has been part of the fabric of the Sixers since day one.

Captaining the club to their first Big Bash title, the now two-time BBL champion and member of the 2012 Champions League title-winning side is determined to bring more success home to the Sixers.

Speaking from India where he is part of the Australian T20 team, Smith said he was delighted to be back playing for a club that has meant so much to him for well over a decade.

“It’s great to be back in the Sixers shirt,” Smith said.

“I’ve got some really fond memories playing for the Sixers. Obviously, I am an original, part of the first squad and really enjoyed my time last year for the five or six games and the finals that I played so I am keen to get out there again.

Smith also had a message for Sixers members and supporters.

“Sixers fans, just get around the team. We have a wonderful team, wonderful culture and we are looking forward to another great season in the Big Bash,” he said.

Speaking about the opportunity to play alongside his long-time mate again this season, Sydney Sixers skipper Moises Henriques said:

“Steve is a Sixer through and through. Any opportunity for him to be a part of this group, we will always jump at that chance. It goes without saying that he’s one of the best players the game has ever seen. He’s obviously someone you want playing in your side, but he’s also a guy we love having around.

“He is one of the most entertaining players in the world to watch, so for our fans to get that opportunity this season is a no-brainer for us.”

Head of Sydney Sixers, Rachael Haynes said the signing was a huge win for Sixers fans.

“Steve is one of the best players in the world. He comes to us fresh off the back of an incredible winter for the Australian men’s team – retaining the Ashes in England, claiming the World Test Championship and winning a World Cup.

“The impact that Steve was able to make in such a short time last season is testament to the kind of player he is. We have no doubt Sixers fans can expect the same level of entertainment when he takes to the field again this summer.

“For our members and fans to have the opportunity to see one of the game’s biggest stars at the SCG this summer is a thrill, and we hope to see a packed house at the SCG on December 8.”

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Steve Smith is a phenomenal batsman. No two opinion on that, also he has an impeccable technique. But the thing is that he is not a pinch hitter and that is the obvious reason that he is not as good a t20 batter as he is in longer formats.

 

[Ab Fan]

Among the top 5 test batsman of all-time.

Good ODI player but won't make it to top 50 Odi players of all-time.

Average T20 player.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Australia coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that Steve Smith is still in contention for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.​

Before the start of the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, Australia's T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh outlined his team’s composition, confirming that the top order was fairly settled, with David Warner, Travis Head, and himself occupying the first three positions.

“I've batted (at) three for the last 18 months, so I'll be there to start with. And obviously Heady and Davey Warner have been amazing for us over the last period of time, so I daresay that will be the top three,” Marsh said on the eve of the series opener.

This along with the fact that Australia have a packed middle-order featuring options like Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Matt Short, and Tim David, raises questions about Smith’s position in the T20 World Cup lineup.

Smith had taken the top-order role in recent times for Australia.

However, coach McDonald confirmed that the batter was still pretty much in the running for the global tournament, which Australia won in 2021. He stated that Smith would get an opportunity as the side would look to trial different combinations leading up to the World Cup.

Speaking after Australia’s win over New Zealand in the first T20I in Wellington, McDonald said, “If he wasn't in our thinking then he wouldn't be on the plane over here.

“We're playing him for a reason,” McDonald continued discussing Smith, “He'll get some opportunity here, he had some opportunities in India at the back end of a World Cup, and we were planning for him to play in South Africa as well going as far back as August-September [2023], but he unfortunately had a wrist injury at the time.”

Since Australia’s home T20 World Cup campaign in 2022, Smith has featured twice in the T20I setup, as an opener against India last year. McDonald hinted that Smith would continue to take the same role in the side.

“He's definitely in the thoughts. We'll probably play him in a slightly different role to what we've seen in previous World Cups in T20 cricket.

“He's gone to the top of the order in recent times, so batting high up there's still competition for places.

“I suppose that's a good problem to have.”

McDonald stressed the importance of the upcoming games, stating that they’d help Australia figure out their best possible squad for the World Cup in West Indies and USA,

“There's 20 players that are in our thinking, we're not settled in terms of the final 15 at this stage and that's why these games are really important

“And we've got a lot of our players in IPL as well, so we get another look at what certain players are doing in that competition which is probably the biggest connection to international cricket.

“We're not going to get to a final 11 as we sit here, but we'll work through to a 15 and give ourselves as many options in that 15 to negate what the West Indies surfaces will challenge us with.”

The last two T20Is in the ongoing series will be played in Auckland on 23 and 25 February respectively.

ICC

 

[FearlessRoar]

Steve Smith, in an interview with a local Australian media outlet after the T20I series against New Zealand, expressed his sentiments on his performance and the upcoming ICC T20I World Cup 2024:

"I'm not too fussed" about being selected for the T20 World Cup after a poor showing in the T20 series against New Zealand."

"I think they're pretty settled up top, to be honest, with (Travis) Head, Warner and (Mitch) Marsh in the top three."

"I'm not really sure what (selectors) want to do. I'm not really too fussed either way. If I'm there, I'm there. If I'm not, I'm not."

"(Adam) Milne got one to take off in the second game, which was tough. Lockie, when that sun was setting, it was quite difficult to pick up and he gave me a nice in-swinger."

 

[Rana]

Steve Smith, in an interview with a local Australian media outlet after the T20I series against New Zealand, expressed his sentiments on his performance and the upcoming ICC T20I World Cup 2024:

"I'm not too fussed" about being selected for the T20 World Cup after a poor showing in the T20 series against New Zealand."

"I think they're pretty settled up top, to be honest, with (Travis) Head, Warner and (Mitch) Marsh in the top three."

"I'm not really sure what (selectors) want to do. I'm not really too fussed either way. If I'm there, I'm there. If I'm not, I'm not."

"(Adam) Milne got one to take off in the second game, which was tough. Lockie, when that sun was setting, it was quite difficult to pick up and he gave me a nice in-swinger."

Champion attitude

Imagine if Pakistan come down hard on our T20 accumulators and tell them they are not needed for the T20 World Cup…they will use their influence to cause riots on the streets of Pakistan!

 

[The Bald Eagle]

As per some reports:

Steven Smith set to be dropped from Australia's 2024 T20 World Cup squad.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

As per some reports:

Steven Smith set to be dropped from Australia's 2024 T20 World Cup squad.

And likely to accomodate JFMcG in the squad. And that's why they will start stronger than NZ, PAK type teams.

You can't win with guys like KW, Rizwan etc.

 

[mominsaigol]

Jake replacing Steven Smith is the blessing of the century.

For me Smith was the only thorn in the side especially in t20.

Smith is the rizwan of Australia, although he gets less critisized due to 2015 wc and the fact that he's surrounded by a good team.

 

[RidiculousMan]

I don't think T20Is or even T20s is his focus anymore. Otherwise he would've signed up in PSL

 

[Statpadder Inc]

Jake replacing Steven Smith is the blessing of the century.

For me Smith was the only thorn in the side especially in t20.

Smith is the rizwan of Australia, although he gets less critisized due to 2015 wc and the fact that he's surrounded by a good team.

C'mon Man respect Smith

65 in the QF, 105 in the SF and 56 in the Final, and scored 85 in the 2019 SF as the entire team crumbled

 

[Rana]

Australia doing the right thing

Pakistan should also do the same and show Babar and Rizwan the door

 

[mominsaigol]

C'mon Man respect Smith

65 in the QF, 105 in the SF and 56 in the Final, and scored 85 in the 2019 SF as the entire team crumbled

Smith 2015 and 2019 is gone now.

Same way with how people bring up 2021 babar and I bring up that babar is gone now

2022-2024 is a Nepal E Azam meme, people just don't wanna acknowledge that babar regressed.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Champion attitude

Imagine if Pakistan come down hard on our T20 accumulators and tell them they are not needed for the T20 World Cup…they will use their influence to cause riots on the streets of Pakistan!

But Smith is not a king. So..

 

[mominsaigol]

Champion attitude

Imagine if Pakistan come down hard on our T20 accumulators and tell them they are not needed for the T20 World Cup…they will use their influence to cause riots on the streets of Pakistan!

Tbf, Babar and rizwan don't have access to Warner, head, jake, Maxwell, stones, inglis, Tim David and these types of players.

I get your point, and yes Smith has good attitude which our players don't but bab/riz don't have these players.

Tayyab, saud, Abdullah, Fakhar, usman khan, Saim ayub, Omair, Haris. Even if you develop these lads, their never reaching the level of head who's honestly better then any pakistani batsmen ever produced.

Only arguments for saeed Anwar and zaheer can be made but the fact we're going back to the 90's and 70's just proves my point.

 

[Rana]

Tbf, Babar and rizwan don't have access to Warner, head, jake, Maxwell, stones, inglis, Tim David and these types of players.

I get your point, and yes Smith has good attitude which our players don't but bab/riz don't have these players.

Tayyab, saud, Abdullah, Fakhar, usman khan, Saim ayub, Omair, Haris. Even if you develop these lads, their never reaching the level of head who's honestly better then any pakistani batsmen ever produced.

Only arguments for saeed Anwar and zaheer can be made but the fact we're going back to the 90's and 70's just proves my point.

They don’t have players like that but their influence+ presence in the side also doesn’t enable others to grow. It’s becoming pretty obvious now. For some weird reason, decent players are just not able to fully express themselves for Pakistan. The guys like Fakhar, Usman, Saim, Azam etc are not poor players…they are better T20 batsmen than Babar and Rizwan, but they just can’t show it for some weird, manhoos reason!

 

[mominsaigol]

They don’t have players like that but their influence+ presence in the side also doesn’t enable others to grow. It’s becoming pretty obvious now. For some weird reason, decent players are just not able to fully express themselves for Pakistan. The guys like Fakhar, Usman, Saim, Azam etc are not poor players…they are better T20 batsmen than Babar and Rizwan, but they just can’t show it for some weird, manhoos reason!

Idk about usman or azam, you probably see something I don't but fakhar and saim yes.

Fakhar was babar/rizwan shouldn't be a comparison, Babar already admitted inferiority, he literally claimed fakhar when onsong is superior to the entire pak batting unit even if said batting unit is onsong.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1934736508663287930