Steve Smith’s latest disappointment with the bat since being moved to opener has left the Australian batting great plummeting to his lowest points tally in the ICC world Test rankings in a decade.
The rating for the 34-year-old, who scored 31 before a second-innings duck against New Zealand in Australia’s first-Test win, has dropped below 800 points for the first time since 2014 as he was relegated one place to third in the rankings behind England’s Joe Root.
New Zealander Kane Williamson (870 points) remains comfortably at the top of the charts despite his own disappointing time in Wellington as he made just nine and nought, while a century against India elevated Root.
At the end of January, Smith was in defensive mood about his new opening role when he carried his bat for 91 in the narrow Test defeat against West Indies at the Gabba, pointing out his average at the top of the order was 60.
That’s no longer the case after he got cleaned up by Tim Southee in the first over of the second innings in Wellington.
Marnus Labuschagne, who like Smith has been a No.1 ranked batter, has dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since December 2019 after he was dismissed for one and two in Wellington.
But there was one big Australian mover in the right direction as Cameron Green’s unbeaten 174 in the first innings and 34 in the second elevated him 22 places in the rankings to 23rd on the list.
Among the bowlers, Nathan Lyon’s match-winning10-wicket haul against New Zealand moves him to sixth in the rankings.
Another performance like that this week in Christchurch would move him past his career-best rating 799 points reached after the Edgbaston Ashes Test in 2023.
mrl
Roar Rookie
Will Smith hold a press conference and cry on his father’s shoulder?
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Sigh… is this what “news” has come to, knee jerk reactions based on single innings. - Smith gets out in the first innings at the Gabba - failure as an opener, drop Green and send him down the order. - Carries his bat in the second innings - he’s going to be the best opener in the world, averages 60! - Scores 31 in tough conditions in the first innings at Wellington - crucial contribution, set up the Australian innings. - Gets a duck in the second innings - time to retire mate, it’s Dave Warner all over again. Can’t wait for him to score a hundred and duck in this test so he can be the next Jack Hobbs followed by the next Chris Martin.
Rubbish Surf 69
Roar Rookie
Smith hasn't been in great form for a while now. His slide down the rankings is not due to him becoming an opener. To me he hasn't looked any worse at the top of the order, he has just looked a shell of himself as a batter for at least a year.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
A slow news day story. I'm sure players get a giggle out of these things of the field, but not when they're in the middle.
Tony Hodges
Roar Rookie
While I’m sure Smith wants to succeed, I’d doubt if his ranking is the thing motivating him. He wants to try something new because it will be hard, and I’m also sure he knew there’d be a learning curve.