Steve Smith finally feels in control of Australian cricket’s destiny after Test team’s transformation
IT took a rock-bottom Test in Hobart, but Steve Smith feels the team’s sudden transformation has finally given him an sense of ownership over Australian cricket.
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STEVE Smith feels Australia’s new model Test team actually belongs to him and is hoping they can stay together for up to a decade.
The country’s youngest skipper since Kim Hughes more than three decades ago always felt in control, but his major say in the team’s sudden transformation has given him an unprecedented sense of ownership over the destiny of Australian cricket.
Smith inherited a side in transition from predecessor Michael Clarke, one rocked by half a dozen retirements and a never-ending cycle of injuries to fast bowlers.
In 17 Tests at the helm, Smith has been subjected to a greater turnover in personnel than Steve Waugh experienced in his entire captaincy.
When everything went belly-up in Hobart, selectors virtually handed Smith the keys to the city, asking him to help hand-pick the six new faces that could take Australian cricket forward.
A more authoritative Australian captain has emerged from this crisis, with Smith sitting his troops down for an honesty session in Adelaide that he believes can lay the framework for the next 5-10 years.
“I’ve felt in control the whole time but I guess in that respect it’s been a refreshing new-look team and it does feel a little bit more (like there’s real ownership),” Smith said.
“I think it’s a really exciting time in Australian cricket and all these young guys have a chance to create careers for themselves and we’re all so young we could potentially play together for the next five or 10 years.”
Smith gave back to the grassroots of the game by personally presenting a $2000 cheque to the Blowfly Cricket Club in Hornsby, Sydney, through the CommBank Cricket Club sponsorships program which is devoted to the grassroots of the game.
There are a number of kids at Blowfly with learning difficulties and health issues, and Smith played the pied piper as he led the youngsters through some drills.
Smith might not be an official selector but he has also played a notably major role in shaping the future of Australian cricket.
Both at the selection table and then with a passionate address to his troops in Adelaide where he laid down the law about how he wants Australia to play.
“I brought everyone together and had a good chat,” he said.
“We had a team meeting in Adelaide where we assembled and I stated my expectations of how we are going to go going forward.
“I (detailed) all the demands of the modern game and the certain things I think are important for us to do to have success at international level.
“Basically all the things I said, we did last week (against South Africa).
“That was a good start and there’s plenty of growth left in this team which is good.”
Smith appreciated the lengthy chat he shared with Mark Waugh at the SCG and other selectors, which helped shape the new-model XI, and he heaped praise on the debutants, especially 20-year-old opener Matt Renshaw.
“It was nice to have a say,” said Smith.
“I don’t get the end say but selectors certainly take into account everything I do say.
“I think they did a good job and the guys we’ve got have opportunities to create some careers out of these players.
“I thought Matt Renshaw, getting the chance to bat with him he was so calm and composed. Every time the ball went past his bat he was just laughing.
“It was just great to see the young fella batting with a smile on his face and just letting go what happened before.”
Originally published as Steve Smith finally feels in control of Australian cricket’s destiny after Test team’s transformation
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