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It has been referenced before but it still sits as the ideal starting point for what is about to follow.
The Perth Test of the 2010-11 Ashes, in the eyes of this particular observer, provided a nadir in Australian batsmanship.
Admittedly, to expect to scale the heights reached by years of top sixes occupied by the likes of Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh, David Boon, Ricky Ponting, Matt Hayden and Michael Slater to name but a few without a slight drop would place you well and truly in the optimistic brigade. Even so, the selection for that particular WACA contest must have ensured plenty of heavy sighing and eye rolling.
Yes, the hosts’ batting had failed miserably in Adelaide to allow England to go one-nil up and yes, desperate times produce desperate measures, but still.
Steve Smith, the cat on the hot tin roof who bowled some indifferent leg-spin and batted a bit given the opportunity to resurrect his nation’s flagging batting fortunes? It was a cruel hoax surely.
Okay, he could field pretty well but the ability to slide, pick up and throw in one smooth motion does not a Test batsman make. Was this what Australia had become?
Laughing stock would be too harsh a description but given plenty selected by the old enemy over the years would’ve caused sniggering down under, the chance to mock the Aussies was gratefully received by more than the off punter.
To paraphrase one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s famous lines: “Steve Smith? Bloody hell!”
Well that was 2010 and this is 2016. The Smith picked to liven up the dressing room (note to cricketers – if that is ever given as the reason for your selection don’t admit it) is now the Smith leading his nation both as captain as run-scorer in chief.
And as well as waltzing around at the top of the world rankings with Joe Root, Kane Williamson et al, Smith is also one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year.
This news may not have created much in the way of a ripple in Australia as it is primarily an English publication after all, but it is given plenty of mileage this side of the world where tradition is clung on to all too readily.
Chosen on the back of performances in the 2015 English season, much to the chagrin of numerous Indian fans who only see the name ‘Kohli’ when a shortlist of any sort is drawn up, Smith has been joined by Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Brendon McCullum and Williamson.
I say performances but this has to be contextualised to some degree because statistical form isn’t always the absolute barometer and other immeasurable factors are used.
McCullum didn’t do a great deal in terms of runs scored and, come to think of it, neither did Stokes.
Bairstow churned them out in the County Championship, Williamson made hay for New Zealand on their tour and Smith had as good an Ashes as anyone with bat in hand.
But just as any journalist lucky enough to play Augusta National the day after the US Masters can have one go and one go only, once you’ve been named as one of Wisden’s five that’s you done. Hence no Root or Chris Rogers.
That shouldn’t necessarily be used to knock the awards as those doing the judging can set whatever rules they wish and Smith, certainly as far as I can see, is a worthy recipient and it’s another mark in the pro column on an ever-expanding CV.
The centuries at Lord’s and The Oval stand out, obviously, but his stellar form either side of the northern hemisphere summer won’t have hurt.
When the dust settles on Smith’s career a decade or so in the future, the chances are this latest accolade won’t be used as one of the shining lights of his achievements.
So far there have been numerous Test centuries, series victories, a World Cup win and ascension to his country’s top job with plenty of room for more.
The idiosyncratic method remains and that isn’t going anywhere but the unique style, no substance model seen in Perth has been well and truly replaced by the unique style, all substance individual of today.
Smith doesn’t need an award from an English institution to rubber stamp his standing in the game but as all those who have in their possession a very nice, leather-bound copy of the Almanack would attest, it certainly doesn’t do any harm.