Steve Smith’s passion and dedication is without question, if he could play for Australia every day of year he’d have a smile from ear to ear.
Smith’s by far the highest ranked Test batsman in the world with 933 points. He leads Virat Kohli (875), Joe Root (848), Kane Williamson (846), and is ahead of compatriot David Warner’s 812.
Smith has a Test average of 60.15 with 17 centuries and 20 half-centuries. Kohli has 50.10 with 15/14, Root 52.80 with 11/27, Williamson 50.57 with 15/25, and Warner 49.16 with 18/23.
Smith is just as important to Australia’s ODI campaigns, even though he’s ranked 10th in the world with 755 points for his 44.17 average that includes eight centuries and 16 half-centuries.
AB de Villiers lead the ODI rankings with 861 points, an average of 53.63 with 11/16. Then there’s Kohli’s 848 points, 53.10 average and 27/38, Warner’s 840 points, 42.29 average with 8/19, Quinton de Kock’s 779 points, average 43.84 with 11/8, and Williamson’s 770 points, 46.81 average with 8/27.
But here’s the point.
Smith is such a priceless asset as captain, consistent batsman, and brilliant fieldsman to Australia’s Test and ODI formats, should selectors rein in his passion and dedication and rule the 27-year-old out of the T20 format?
There are valid reasons on stats alone. In the shortest form of the game, Smith is ranked 91st in the world and averages just 21.55 with no centuries and just two half-centuries (90 and 61 not out) in 25 visits to the crease.
Believe it or not, Aaron Finch on 771 points and Glenn Maxwell with 763, are second and third in the world T20 rankings, behind Kohli’s 820.
And there’s another valid reason why selectors can start by leaving Smith out of the T20s. Cricket Australia has scheduled a three-game T20 series against Sri Lanka, with the last inked in on the day before Australia meets India at Pune in the first of four Tests.
On the surface, the decision by Cricket Australia is one of the most bone-headed of all time.
It effectively rules out of the Sri Lanka series these potential T20 reps: Smith, Warner, Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Nathan Lyon, Steve O’Keefe, Ashton Agar, and Mitchell Swepson.
But there may be a subtle method to Cricket Australia’s madness.
By ruling out all the main suspects, the selectors will be forced to look long and hard at the Big Bash stats to find basically a new T20 team.
And with Australia’s T20 performances nowhere near the Test and ODI standards, a new look side might be the answer.
But the real thrust for the future is cutting down Steve Smith’s workload so Australia’s best cricketer can maintain his lofty standard.
Nothing is more important on the Australian cricket calendar.
Ken (Sava) Lloyd
Guest
I think everyone is playing too much Cricket,I have even been watching the Grunters ( Womens Tennis) for a break.Oh boy, and with the South Pacific Island Benefit Comp ( RL and Rah Rah)about to start,the only game in Town . Hearts are Trumps. Sava
davSA
Guest
Actually Derek it still appears to be up in the air . He also indicated that it wasn't just the injury issues but others which he did not detail. At this stage he is taking it one step at a time , but did indicate that Test Cricket would be the first to go. It would be a loss to not just SA , but world cricket.
davSA
Guest
I have no particular sympathy towards David Lord , I don't know the guy , haven't met him and probably never will. What I do have qwetzen is sympathy towards his article and full agreement with the sentiment expressed. Should I not agree with something that is written I give myself full permission to to criticize and debate. This is a highly relevant topic in cricket today . I have mentioned previously the physical toll on an AB De Villiers , but its not just the physical side that overexposure affects. These guys travel an enormous amount and are constantly on the move , living out of suitcases and away from their families. In AB,s case as in Amla,s (who relinquished the captaincy due to the constant pressure) and even David Warner , all have young families . It must be very difficult being away from your young children almost constantly and stil coping with the demands of international cricket. What I don't give myself permission to do qwetzen is to target anyone including Mr Lord personally . That I have no right to do and wont. Anyway it detracts from and sidetracks the debate which should be the primary issue.
qwetzen
Guest
There doesn't appear to be much call around these parts for ironic humour. See, if Ultimate Fanboi GM can bleat that Smith's T20 stats don't count because of the small sample size then the obvious spoof is to quote Vogesy as 'Best Since Bradman' because...etc etc "Analysing a joke is like dissecting a frog. No-one's interested and the frog dies." E.B. White
Egbirt
Guest
Pah! Voges? You kidding me? ROTFL
qwetzen
Guest
Our best bat since GSC is Adam Voges. Besides, in T20 you can't afford to carry someone who drops as many catches as Smith.
qwetzen
Guest
"As an aside I find it super interesting that those who seem to constantly have a go at you also always appear to be the first to read your articles." As none of the first three respondents to this piece are "having a go" at Mr Lord your statement is incorrect. Which explains your sympathetic attitude to Mr Lord.
GM
Guest
Smith is 100% our best batsmen. Sure his 20 odd innings in T20 internationals so far haven't been up to scratch, but that's only 20 odd innings. Are you suggesting that if we picked a T20 team vying for a world cup you'd leave Steve Smith out? There would be a royal commission if you did! Do a little critical thinking yourself, because writing off the best batsmen we've had since Greg Chappell is lacking in critical thinking.
Felix
Guest
Yep I do too, the comments make me laugh quite a lot. I must say, David has written a few articles lately that I've had no issue with, mainly on golf and such which is my passion, but the odd cricket article too. I think Lord Bashing seems to be a pastime of a few on here...
Paul D
Roar Guru
I mainly come for the tomato and lettuce throwing in the comments I actually agree with the point of the article and the central argument, Smith is playing too much cricket. I just think it's terribly written.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I thought AB had knocked that story on the head and confirmed he would continue playing tests Dav. I really hope so. You make a fair point on David's detractors. I am sometimes one but this article makes perfect sense and the auto-hate trigger isn't valid. Smith isn't our best T20 player and probably isn't in the best 11. Would be good to leave him out of this format where we have talent not yet tried at the elite level.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Best player in all formats... What rubbish! Smith may very well be our best in Test cricket, close to our best in ODI's (Warner's claim is strong too), but he isn't even close to our best in T20. Less emotion and more critical thinking before you post next time please.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Don't agree on what? I didn't express an opinion on Warner.
davSA
Guest
Thanks David ,Smith seems to be following in the footsteps of AB De Villiers. He also was heavily exposed across all formats in his career. He is paying the price now with major injuries taking its toll at a time when he should be in his prime. He has also now indicated that he intends to retire from test cricket and may well have played his last game in the longer format. As an aside I find it super interesting that those who seem to constantly have a go at you also always appear to be the first to read your articles. Cheers !
qwetzen
Guest
That's a poor analogy. Smith is highly rated...
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Best player in all formats? Did you even read the article?
Jeff milton
Guest
great work Rossy
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Thought I was the only one.
James Jackson
Guest
Too many stats for Dave
James Jackson
Guest
James I can't say I agree, Warner is one of the best T20 players in the world and he wants to play - whether we see T20 as a worthwhile endeavour is irrelevant, because CA thinks it's important (even though this scheduling doesn't reflect that).