Cricket World Cup 2015: Steve Smith caps meteoric rise with summer to remember

STEVE Smith is the most uniquely talented batsman in world cricket and not even his employers Cricket Australia had a whiff of his meteoric rise as a superstar.

Australia's batsman Steve Smith celebrates as he reaches 50 runs during the 2015 Cricket World Cup quarter-final match between Pakistan and Australia at the Adelaide Oval on March 20, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE--

STEVE Smith is the most uniquely talented batsman in world cricket and not even his employers Cricket Australia had a whiff of his meteoric rise as a superstar.

The powers that be knew they had a special kid on their hands, maybe even a future captain.

But for all the flow charts and body indexes that are kept at CA headquarters, there was nothing to suggest Smith would be this good.

It was a run that started with a scintillating 73 not out in an ODI against South Africa at Manuka Oval back on November 19, the signature shot that night a boundary between his legs.

Two matches before he wasn’t considered to be in the best ODI XI, yet since then, the Smith express has launched into overdrive.

AUSTRALIA V PAKISTAN REPORT CARD: WHERE DID SMITH RANK?

THE STATS NOT EVEN BRADMAN COULD MATCH

Steve Smith, right, has taken his game to a different level.

Across Test and one-day cricket, Smith has averaged an astonishing 92.5 in the four months that have followed that exhibition in Canberra — in anyone’s language that’s a summer for the ages.

Six hundreds, seven 50s and 1420 runs at an average more than 42 runs better than the next best performer David Warner (averaging 50.3).

It was hard not to notice Shane Watson against Pakistan in the epic quarterfinal in Adelaide.

Watson was courageous, focused, patient and skilful, but there’s no denying he was fighting just to stay above water in the face of Wahab Riaz’s spell from hell.

In contrast, when the strike swapped over to Smith, the seas calmed and the 25-year-old No. 3 went about his business with barely a ripple.

Watson was great, but Smith was world class.

Former Test captain Allan Border wasn’t the first person this summer to observe that Smith plays not only on a different pitch, but a different planet to everyone else.

Smith flicks a ball fine for a boundary.

Australian selector Mark Waugh could liken Smith only to South African ace AB de Villiers, and admits the game never saw it coming.

They didn’t even pick him for the first international of the summer.

“He’s just come out of the blocks really,” Waugh exclusively told The Daily Telegraph at the beginning of the World Cup, before Smith had blasted three consecutive match-defining half centuries.

“He hasn’t come from nowhere but his improvement has been phenomenal really the last 12 months.

“He’s always been a talented player but the level he’s gone to I don’t think anyone could have predicted that.

“He’s just been outstanding. Along with AB de Villiers, they’ve been the two standout players.

Steve Smith and AB de Villiers have been in rare touch.

“Obviously Davey Warner has been great as well, but Steve Smith’s improvement and development has been very rapid.

“It looks like he’s playing a different game.”

Smith has smashed open the record books this summer.

The first man ever to score hundreds on his debuts as Test one-day captain.

Smith’s four hundreds in four Tests this summer against India is a feat second only to Bradman as far as Australians are concerned.

There’s a sense Smith is on his way to joining the Chappells, the Pontings, the Waughs and the Clarkes in batting folklore.

But Mark Waugh says Smith reminds him of no one.

“Not really, no. Because his style is so unique.”

Warner’s brilliant form has been overshadowed by Smith’s.

Smith’s presence at No. 3 has added another dimension to the Australian batting order.

Former Test great Mike Hussey predicted the switch to first drop could win Australia the World Cup, and there can be no underestimating his exquisite 65 off 69 balls against Pakistan when Australia were in extreme peril.

It would appear almost certain Smith will be anchoring the innings at No. 3 in Test level as well by the time Australia get to England to bring home the Ashes.

In that sense, he is Australia’s long-awaited heir to Ricky Ponting.

Smith is in a rare bubble, and Waugh said over-confidence and staleness is the youngster’s only enemy.

“He’s batting beautifully and batting with so much confidence,” he said.

“It’s a fine line. You can’t get over confident.

“He’s just got to stay level-headed and stay hungry for runs.”

PLANET STEVE SMITH

In Tests and one-dayers since November 19

Runs: 1420

Balls: 1895

Average: 92.5

Hundreds: 6

Fifties: 7

Matches: 18

Innings: 20

Not outs: 4

Strike Rate: 78

Fours: 146

Sixes: 10

HS: 192

NEXT BEST

David Warner, average 50.3, 956 runs, five hundreds, one 50, 120 fours, 12 sixes