Name:

Smith, Steve PD

Nickname:

Smudge

Date of Birth:

02 Jun 1989

Gender:

Men

Place of Birth:

Sydney

Career:

ODI: 2010 - 2025
T20: 2010 - current
Test: 2010 - current

Teams:

NSW (Regional)
Australia (Country)

Banned Steve Smith breaks down in tears at media conference

Steve Smith: Skipper with an unorthodox batting style

Steve Smith was born in Sydney on 2nd June 1989.

He started his career as a leg spin bowler but has progressed to become a specialist top order batsman.

Smith made his debut as a spinner for New South Wales against Western Australia in 2008. He steadily rose in reputation and was the second highest wicket-taker in the Twenty20 competition of 2008.

After scoring four Sheffield Shield centuries and taking a career-best haul of 7 for 64, he was picked for Australia's tour to New Zealand with just 13 first-class games. He debuted against Pakistan in a T20 International in 2010 and bagged 2 wickets. His ODI debut was in the same month against the West Indies in which he was clobbered for 78 runs in 9 overs but still kept flighting the ball and bowling with an attacking mentality.

His attitude impressed the then Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting who gave him his maiden break in Tests against Pakistan as a genuine frontline spinner. He didn't disappoint, bagging 3 wickets in the 2nd innings on debut in 2010.

Smith has gradually given up on bowling to bat in the top order. He took over the captaincy from Michael Clarke in 2015.

In the 4th Test against India in March 2017, Smith smashed his 20th Test century. He was playing his 54th Test and was the third quickest player to reach 20 Test centuries with only Don Bradman (35) and Sunil Gavaskar (50) doing it quicker.

During the 3rd Test against South Africa in Cape Town in March 2018, Smith was accused of masterminding the ball tampering scandal that led to him to admitting to cheating. He lost his captaincy in the outrage that followed in Australia. After being sent home mid-tour in disgrace, Smith broke down in tears as he spoke for the first time since being banned for 12 months for cheating.

Source: CricketCrowd Staff Reporter