Steve Smith: Australia's Greatest Modern Batsman — 9,000+ Test Runs, Sandpaper Gate, Two Captaincies
Steven Peter Devereux Smith is an Australian cricketer born on 2 June 1989 in Kogarah, New South Wales. He is regarded as Australia's best batsman since Ricky Ponting and one of the top two right-handed Test batsmen of his era alongside Virat Kohli. He has scored 9,000+ Test runs at over 59.00 — the highest average of any active Test batsman with 50+ Tests. He first became Australia's Test captain in 2015. He was banned for 12 months in March 2018 following the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal ('sandpaper gate') alongside David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. He returned in the 2019 Ashes, scoring 774 runs in the series at 110.57. He was ICC Test Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2015 and 2018. His unique 'Smith shuffle' backlift has attracted widespread analysis.
Steven Peter Devereux Smith was born on 2 June 1989 in Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia. He made his Test debut against Pakistan in Hobart in January 2010, initially as a leg-spin bowling all-rounder. He evolved into Australia's premier batsman, developing an idiosyncratic but highly effective technique — known as the 'Smith shuffle' — characterised by a pronounced backlift and restless movement at the crease. He first captained Australia in a Test match in 2014 and was confirmed as full-time captain in late 2015.
9,000 Test Runs and Sandpaper Gate
Steve Smith has scored 9,000+ Test runs at over 59.00 — the highest average of any batsman who has played 50+ Tests in the modern era. He was ICC Test Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2015 and 2018. In March 2018, Smith was banned for 12 months by Cricket Australia following the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal ('sandpaper gate'). Cameron Bancroft was found using sandpaper to alter the ball's condition; Smith and David Warner were found to have known about the plan. Smith and Warner served 12-month bans; Bancroft served 9 months. Smith resigned the captaincy.
The 2019 Ashes Return
Steve Smith returned from his ban in time for the 2019 Ashes in England. He scored 774 runs in the series at an average of 110.57 — the most by any batsman in a single Ashes series in England since Don Bradman, and the highest average in any Ashes series in England in the modern era. Australia retained the Ashes 2-1. Smith was named Player of the Series. His innings included 144 and 142 at Edgbaston and 211 at Old Trafford.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Steve Smith in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal?
In March 2018 during a Test match in Cape Town, Cameron Bancroft was filmed using sandpaper to illegally alter the condition of the ball. Steve Smith (captain) and David Warner (vice-captain) admitted they were aware of the plan and did nothing to stop it. Cricket Australia banned Smith and Warner for 12 months each and Bancroft for 9 months. Smith resigned the Test captaincy. The incident became known as 'sandpaper gate' and severely damaged Australian cricket's reputation. Smith returned in the 2019 Ashes, scoring 774 runs at 110.57 to help Australia retain the Ashes 2-1.