Ricky Ponting Is Not Sure If Steve Smith Will Be Picked For The T20 World Cup 2024 – Steve Smith has been a legendary batter for Australia in test cricket. He is counted as an all-time great in test cricket. His stats and numbers with the bat in test cricket are better than any of his compatriots and even among the best in history. However, he has not had the same amount of effect in the shortest format in cricket.
Steve Smith has not had any effect in the T20 format so far and has not cemented his place in the Australian T20 team. Keeping the T20 World Cup 2024 in mind, Australia tried to test Steve Smith by letting him open in T20I. However, he could not grasp the opportunity. His strike-rate is a real concern, and questions are being raised about whether he should be picked for the T20 World Cup in 2024.
Ricky Ponting Is Not Sure If Steve Smith Will Be Picked For The T20 World Cup 2024
Ricky Ponting, the former Australian World Cup-winning captain, talked about this topic. He stated that it’s always better to have the experience of players like Smith in a World Cup squad. However, even if he finds his place in the squad, he won’t be picked in the playing XI because of his numbers in T20s.
“You love having guys like him around because of the experience and the calming influence that you can have around a team during a World Cup. But the other thing you always have to be mindful of is what role can he play? So I would think if Steve Smith does find his way into the squad, I don’t think he will be in the starting XI,” Ponting was quoted by ICC as saying.
“And I think that’s probably been shown the last couple of weeks with the series they just played in New Zealand. I think he opened the batting in a couple of those games, but not all of those games and they’re sort of spreading the load around a little bit trying to find their right combination, but would I have him in the squad? I think I’d have him in the squad, but he wouldn’t be in my starting XI,” he added.
