New Delhi:
After six long years, Steve Smith will finally make an appearance in the 2019/20 Big Bash League. Smith, who last played in the Big Bash League in 2014, will once again play for the Sydney Sixers franchise after the end of the India series that will take place in January 2020. Australia are slated to tour India for three ODIs. After the ODIs end on January 19, Smith could have a chance to play for the Sydney Sixers franchise potentially for their clash against Brisbane Heat on January 23. In order to get Smith into the Sydney Sixers side, the franchise released Peter Nevill, who was the captain of the New South Wales side. During the recent series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Smith put on an exhibition as he showed no rust in returning to the format after three and a half years. He smashed a fifty against Sri Lanka but showed his class when he blasted 80 against Pakistan in Canberra.
Australia swpet Sri Lanka 3-0 while they defeated Pakistan 2-0 with one match being abandoned due to rain. "When the schedule came out and I saw there was a chance to wear the Magenta again I jumped at the opportunity and look forward to joining up with the team after my January national team commitments have ended," Smith told the media.
The right-hander, who was banned for one year due to the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, made a strong comeback in the Test arena by smashing 774 runs at an average of 110 with three centuries and three fifties. Smith notched up 10 consecutive fifty-plus scores against England and his batting in the series has been simply phenomenal. Smith averages 64.56 after 68 Tests, second only to Bradman in the all-time list.Bradman himself averaged a mind-boggling 99.94 in his 52-Test career. Both Smith and Pat Cummins played key roles in helping Australia retain The Ashes. The Ashes culminated with a 135-run victory for England in the fifth and final Test and the series ended in a 2-2 draw. Smith's scores of 80 and 23 in the two innings in the final Test helped him remain at 937 rating points.
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Smith said he appreciated the reaction from the crowd in London, although he was disappointed not to have ended the series with a flourish. "It was a nice reception as I walked off. It would have been nice if I'd had a few more runs under my belt in this game. I've given it my all since I've been here for the last four-and-a-half-months in every Test match that we've played and I didn't have much left to give today. I'm pretty cooked to be honest, mentally and physically. I'm looking forward to a nice couple of weeks' rest now before getting into the Australian summer," Smith remarked.
