Srinagar: Not known for big hitting antics , the Australian Steve Smith has been given licence to thrill by team management ahead of upcoming Sri Lanka T20’s.
Having settled in role of anchor in the T20 format, Steve Smith has some what lost place in T20 leagues across the World including cash rich IPL.
During IPL 2021, Smith played eight matches, scoring 152 runs at a strike-rate of 112.59. In the T20 World Cup, in four innings, Smith scored just 69 runs at a strike-rate of 97.18.
But now Steve Superman Smith has been given the license to go out there and take the attack to the bowlers.
“I’m pretty excited that tag’s been taken off, to be honest with you,” Smith told cricket.com.au ahead of Australia’s Sri Lanka tour-opening T20I in Colombo.
“Diva (stand-in coach Michael di Venuto) actually told me the other day … he said ‘we’re getting rid of that tag, that’s gone. Just go out and play freely. If you want to smack your first or second ball for six, go for it’.
“And I’m like, ‘yeah, that’s cool’.
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“So now it’s just about going out and playing freely and trusting my instincts, which I think I’ve done well over any format for a long time, instead of being a bit more reserved and trying not to get out, which I don’t think the right way to play T20 cricket,” said the right-hander.
“They’ve got rid of that ‘Mr. Fix-it’ tag.”
Australia face hosts Sri Lanka in the first T20I in Colombo.
