Australia just won the three-match T20 series against New Zealand
by a 3-0. The Aussies showcased their domination against the opponent. In the T20 series, Steve Smith struggled with the bat. After that, a lot of questions started raising over this matter. Finally, the Aussie star broke the silence on this matter.
The T20 World Cup and Smith’s Off Forms:
Australia asserted its dominance in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against New Zealand, clinching victory with a resounding 3-0 score. As the cricketing spotlight shifts to the upcoming two-match Test series scheduled to kick off on February 29, 2024, the team rides high on their successful T20 campaign.
However, amidst the celebration, a cloud of uncertainty hovers over Steve Smith’s standing in the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. The former Australian captain faced a challenging series in New Zealand, managing a mere 15 runs across two matches. These lackluster performances have ignited speculations about his potential exclusion from the T20I squad, with teammate Matthew Wade acknowledging the uphill battle for Smith to secure a spot.
Despite the doubts swirling around his selection, Steve Smith remains unperturbed. The star batter expressed his tranquility, asserting that he is at peace, irrespective of whether he makes it to the 2024 T20 World Cup squad or not. Smith’s recent struggles at the crease have indeed put his chances on a delicate precipice, with scores of 11 and 4 in the New Zealand T20I series raising questions about his role in the squad moving forward. The anticipation now builds as cricket enthusiasts await the final verdict on Smith’s T20 World Cup journey.
Smith’s Take on That:
Looking back on his recent performance, Steve Smith candidly addressed his low scores and the challenges he faced against the quality deliveries from the New Zealand bowlers. He openly acknowledged the difficulty of the deliveries he encountered during the matches.
Smith said, “I got a couple of decent balls to be fair. (Adam) Milne got one to take off in the second game, which was tough. Lockie, when that sun was setting, it was quite difficult to pick up and he gave me a nice in-swinger.”
Later he added, “It’s fun, but honestly I don’t see it as anything different. I batted at three for an extended part of my career and I batted at four, where I’ve been in inside of two overs. It’s really nothing that new to me.”
Australia wrapped up its T20I commitments with the New Zealand series, marking the final assignment before the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 kicks off in June. Now, the Australian selection committee faces a daunting task in selecting the squad for the mega event, especially with several players showcasing impressive performances in recent matches.
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