Smith’s 56 balls of bliss in BBL century masterclass

Steve Smith isn’t a Twenty20 player. Steve Smith isn’t powerful enough. Steve Smith scores too slowly to be worth his place.

At times in the past, all these statements held a kernel of truth. They helped lead to a major technical refit for Smith in 2022, that reaped plenty of Test runs but arrived too late for him to play a meaningful role in the T20 World Cup for Australia.

But at a packed Coffs Harbour in front of 9576 fans on Tuesday night, Smith repaid the extra cash Cricket Australia shelled out for him to sign with the Sydney Sixers – with interest.

A sparkling century, the first by a Sixers player in the Big Bash League, inspired his side to a mammoth total of 5-203. In reply, Adelaide were all out for 144 after 19 overs as the Sixers cruised a 59-run win. Smith’s innings was a statement of T20 intent for the future. It also joined a few other genuinely significant moments in the history of the BBL.

Some of those included Shane Warne commentating his own dismissal of Brendon McCullum; Craig Simmons’ 41-ball century; Warne’s ugly encounter with Marl Samuels at the MCG; and Travis Head’s New Year’s Eve rescue mission for the Strikers.

To these can be added Smith’s hundred in 56 balls – only six previous BBL centuries have been reached in fewer deliveries – with seven sixes that were timed with wrists as much as they were struck with biceps.

After a warm-up 36 in his opening game for the Sixers, Smith was fortunate to see his third ball slide into the stumps but not dislodge the bails. As though relieved, Smith slammed his very next delivery over the cover boundary, and was on his way.

As he took a heavy toll of former state teammate Harry Conway in particular, Smith demonstrated the value of his work to eradicate his former shuffle across the crease, keep his eyes level and access more parts of the ground.