Australia, currently playing against India and England, were set to chase a target of 303 in the fourth match of the Tri-series against England at Hobart
Smith came in at number three – considered to be the most responsible batting positions in cricket – after Aaron Finch departed and led his team to a three-wicket victory with an unbeaten on 102
The occasion was special; it was his first ODI as the captain of the team which adorns the green baggy
His team needed a special innings and he couldn’t help himself but deliver
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Earlier, on December 20, 2014, he was burdened with the responsibility of captaining the grief-stricken Australian side in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
The team had just recovered from a shock after the sad demise of Phillip Hughes
He was meant to fill the shoes of Michael Clarke who was ruled out of the rest of the series after pulling a hamstring injury
Any young player would feel the pressure but he didn’t feel any of it
He was oozing with confidence as he had already struck a 162 against India in the first Test
He had to make something special out of his first Test as a captain and he fairly did so
After India scored 408 in the first innings at Brisbane courtesy Murali Vijay’s 144, this wonder kid came in and hit a 191-ball 133 to register his name among batsmen who scored a century on their debut as Test captains
It seemed like he was instinctively triggered to play all out when the occasion demanded
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The 25-year-old star, who rose to prominence in 2009-2010 with his four centuries and best bowling figures of 7-64 for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield, is being hailed as the next Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke for the Australians, and surely he has done enough to prove his mettle
Some might call him an accidental hero who got a chance to enter the limelight due to Clarke’s injury but if one follows his cricketing adventure from the very beginning, there is much more to talk about than just his batting splendours
Players are usually called into the squad because of their cricketing abilities, but this fun chap was once made a part of the team solely because of his skills of cracking a joke
He was called for the third Ashes Test in 2010 at Perth and he commented, “I’ve been told that I’ve got to come into the side and be fun
For me, it’s about having energy in the field and making sure I’m having fun and making sure everyone else around is having fun
” A player who boasts eight centuries and 10 half-tons in only 26 Test outings with an average of 52
36 is supposed to be assisted by a divine intervention in his cricketing state of affairs but the hard work shown by this fledgling yet talented all-rounder should not be denied
Add to that the energy that he brings into the dressing room with his light-hearted comedy and an always smiling face and you have the perfect recipe of a potential leader for the Kangaroos
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Australia must be happy to have instilled their confidence in this cricketing prodigy as their impending skipper and the cricket-mad audience from the Down Under will be chanting his name when their team tries to add a fifth World Cup title in their achievements list
| Date: | 23-Jan-2015 | Reference: | View Original Link |
|---|