Steven Smith: From a reliable fielder to a reliable batsman!

Steven Smith is an Australian international cricketer who currently plays for the New South Wales Blues in KFC Big Bash and for the Pune Warriors India in IPL. An all-rounder, Smith bats right-handed and bowls right arm leg spin.

Smith made his test debut at Lords in 2010, playing both tests against Pakistan in the 2010 test series played in England. He made his One Day International debut for Australia in the fifth match of the ODI Series against the West Indies on 19 February 2010. From then his position is quite uncertain in Australian team.

Steven Smith is regarded as the one of the best fielder of the game for some of his ‘out of the world’ catches in the outfield. But a fielder position in team is quite uncertain and so voices were raised over his inclusion in Ashes. He certainly had shut them up by scoring a ton in Third Ashes match. Australia were in a spot of bother at 143 for five in their first innings. Haddin was the man in form and somebody just needed to stick around with the wicketkeeper-batsman long enough. Smith answered that call and the duo added 124 runs for the sixth wicket. Once Haddin departed for 55, Smith added another 59 runs with Mitchell Johnson. These two partnerships helped Australia to 385, before they were bowled out. Smith had scored 111 off 208 balls with 14 fours and two sixes.

After the match he mentioned: "It’s probably right up there for me and my career,". "Obviously I was under a bit of pressure coming into this game, not scoring many runs. From ball one I felt pretty good; I think I summed up the position really well, and it paid off in the end."

"Steve’s got an unorthodox and very Indian technique, the way he holds the bat, his movements, and thankfully over the last two years he’s taken greater ownership of his own game," his coach Woodhill said. "He’s followed the lead of Michael Clarke, who has great ownership of his own batting technique and game, and he’s catching up on some lost years where others had tried to change his grip, his stance, his backswing. He’s now fluent as he’s been for a long time and that’s only going to get better."

His first century, at The Oval, had been a major personal achievement for the emerging Australian star. The conditions tested his technique and temperament to the fullest, the gifted and fidgety young man showed that when in need he can show up with his batting too.

But in spite of that he has emerged as an unlikely stayer in the middle order, and according to none other than Ricky Ponting, who said he may prove to be Australia’s future captain, he needs to get the things done in his favour and needs to prove himself.