Australia are still trying to “unlock” Steve Smith‘s potential as a Twenty20 player, says team batting coach Michael Di Venuto.
While Smith may be one of the world’s greatest Test batsmen, the former Australian captain was part of an embarrassing batting scare en route to beating Sri Lanka by three wickets on Thursday to clinch their three-match T20 series with a game to spare.
Australia lost a few quick wickets, including Smith for five from four balls, and was at 5-80 needing 45 runs to win. But the T20 world champions had plenty of overs left and batting to come to get the better of the hosts.
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While Smith was playing his first innings since the Test series in Pakistan back in March, his showing underlined a continuing pattern in the format which saw him excluded from the last Indian Premier League season.
“The skill level is exceptionally high, so we’re certainly hoping to unlock him during this period,” Di Venuto said.
“We’ve got plenty of games leading into the (T20) World Cup (in Australia in October) so hopefully we see the best of Steve Smith.”
An exceptional Test batsman with a strong one-day record, Smith’s T20 results don’t measure up.
He averages just 25 and has a strike rate of 125 with four half-centuries from 56 matches. The 33-year-old has a meagre top score of 14 in his four T20 internationals this year.
Di Venuto argued Smith had been used in different roles over the summer but would thrive in the Big Bash League if the option was there in future.
“Unfortunately, a lot of our best players don’t play that competition because they’re playing Tests,” he said.
“Steve’s had success in the IPL in years gone past.”
Australia will persist with Smith for now, despite Josh Inglis and Tim David knocking on the door for a place in the side.
The final game in the series is Saturday in Kandy. The T20s will be followed by five ODIs and two tests.
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