Steve Smith believes he has transformed into a more relaxed leader since he was Australia’s full-time Test skipper and feels well-equipped to help a regenerated squad prosper in Sri Lanka.
In an interview with this masthead ahead of his Big Bash return for the Sydney Sixers against the Perth Scorchers at the SCG on Saturday afternoon, Smith is feeling energised by the chance to lead Australia for two Tests in Galle in the absence of Pat Cummins, who is on paternity leave ahead of the birth of his second child.
“Any chance I get to take over when Patty’s [Cummins] not here is good fun,” Smith said ahead of the first of three matches he will play for the Sixers. “I try and still do things my way. It’s been cool to have a couple of opportunities here and there.
“It’s going to be a cool tour. I think I understand spin and the subcontinent really well in terms of angles and what needs to happen. Also, the tempo of play that needs to be played at certain times.
“I’m probably a bit more relaxed now. I’m pretty chilled and just laid-back. I’ll just enjoy it.”
Smith served a two-year leadership ban for his role in the Sandpapergate saga of 2018 and has captained Australia four times since in a Test – against England in Adelaide (2021), against the West Indies in Perth (2022), as well as two away Tests against India in 2023.
Steve Smith will play for the Sixers at the SCG on Saturday afternoon against the Perth Scorchers. Credit: Getty
Some sections of the Australian public believe Smith should never have been allowed to return as Australian captain.
“I mean, everyone’s entitled to their opinion,” Smith said. “They can say whatever they like. I’m pretty comfortable in my own skin. [The environment] around the team has been good for a long time. I get on well with everyone inside. People are entitled to their opinion. They can say what they want.”
Smith captained Australia on their tour of Sri Lanka in 2016, which ended in a disastrous 3-0 series defeat.
It is not an easy country to play in given the spin-friendly conditions, which is why Smith wants Australia’s batsmen to pick their method to score and then back themselves.
Steve Smith as Australian captain in 2021 against England in Adelaide. Credit: Getty Images
“They can be tough conditions,” Smith said. “They play pretty well there, particularly if the wickets are quite extreme. It’s just guys developing plans as batters … different methods that allow them to score and survive. It’s very different to playing spin here in Australia. Whatever that is, stick to it from ball one, trust it.”
This summer has been a particularly enjoyable one for Smith. His hundreds in Brisbane and Melbourne helped Australia wrestle momentum from India in a 3-1 series win.
The pitches might not have been as flat as Smith would like, but he is satisfied to have regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“It was a cool summer to be a part of … and particularly after the way we fought back from Perth. It was outstanding,” Smith said. “Our bowlers were unbelievable. Scotty Boland, the way he came in, was exceptional. He’s unbelievable at the moment.
Steve Smith on the SCG ahead of his Big Bash return. Credit: Getty
“Just as a collective, it was a really cool win.”
And missing out on 10,000 Test runs? Smith can finally laugh now about being stranded on 9999 runs at the SCG.
“One run … it hurt a little bit at the time,” Smith said. “It would have been nice to have ticked that off in front of all my friends and family here at my home ground, but hopefully, I can knock it off first thing in Galle.
“I probably let it wander [in my mind] too much throughout the game. It’s a cool milestone to tick off.”
Smith said of the clash against the Scorchers: “I enjoy being involved with the Sixers. Such a rich history. I’ve been involved since day one. I usually lock in most evenings and watch, particularly when the Sixers play. Tomorrow’s a huge game against the Scorchers, probably one of our biggest rivals over the years.”
Why Smith went into bat for rookie without a first-class wicket
Steve Smith paused celebrations after claiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to endorse Cooper Connolly’s shock Test selection in the hope of unearthing a potential matchwinner.
Connolly will tour Sri Lanka under interim skipper Smith at the end of January with just four wicketless first-class games to his name and a billing as one of Australia’s best young talents.
Cooper Connolly and Steve Smith before Saturday’s Sixers-Scorchers clash at the SCG.Credit: Edwina Pickles
The 21-year-old West Australian is regarded as a batting all-rounder at this embryonic stage of his career.
But the left-arm off-spin of both Connolly and Matt Kuhnemann offers a craft that has proved especially successful in Sri Lanka and India, and one Australia has historically had few notable practitioners of.
Smith made the point to Australian coach Andrew McDonald and selector Tony Dodemaide in the SCG sheds while celebrating the 3-1 defeat of India that secured the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014.
“I had a little chat to Ron and Dodders [McDonald and Dodemaide] in [the dressing sheds] after the game,” Smith said before posing alongside Connolly to promote Saturday’s Sixers-Scorchers BBL clash.
“I was quite big on someone like Cooper coming in, to be able to spin the ball the other way.
“You watch India – they have Axar [Patel] and Ravindra Jadeja – when a spinner gets tired or nothing’s happening they can turn to another spinner.
“I like the fit, having a couple of spinners going each way, it matches up really nicely.
“He’s a talented young kid and every opportunity he’s got he’s done really well.”
Steve Smith with a young Cooper Connolly (right).
After making his ODI and T20 debuts for Australia in the UK last year, Connolly’s selection came at the expense of veteran all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh, pointing towards the Test side’s regeneration ahead of the 2027 tour of India.
Connolly believes his bowling has developed significantly in the past few years despite limited opportunities on the traditionally pace-friendly wickets of Western Australia.
“I feel like my bowling is pretty high at the moment,” Connolly said.
“That’s something that is going to get me in more teams around the world and hopefully more opportunities for Australia.
“I think my bowling has come a long way in the last 18 months. To get the nod to go to Sri Lanka, I can’t wait. To get the opportunity to potentially put on the baggy green is a dream come true.
“It’s [about] taking advice from some of those quality players and learning as much as I can on those tricky conditions.”
Australia will arrive in Sri Lanka via a training camp in the UAE where pitches will aim to replicate those expected in spin-friendly Galle.
