Steve Smith happy to be back in the BBL for Sydney Sixers
Steve Smith feels like he’s just spent the summer as a spectator after watching Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner pile on the runs while he was waiting for his turn to bat.
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Too much cricket is never enough for Steve Smith.
Just back from India at the end of a gruelling international season, he’s still going, as keen and hungry as ever.
The thought of taking a well-deserved break never entered his mind because in his mind – he just hasn’t spent enough time in the middle, though not because of a dip in form.
It’s all because Australia’s top order batsmen – most notably Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner – have been occupying the crease for so long that Smith feels like he’s been a spectator and his batteries are still fully charged.
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"I'm good. I spent most of the summer watching the game,” he said.
"I've done a lot of watching and not a heap of playing. I'm ready to keep playing and enjoying it.”
True to his word, Smith flew straight from India so he could rejoin the Sixers as quickly as possible for his first appearance in Big Bash for six years.
He still didn’t get a lot of time to bat – making nine just runs after coming in with the Sixers already cruising to an easy win over the struggling Brisbane Heat – but it was enough to whet his appetite for even more.
He’ll be the star attraction in tonight’s SCG clash with the Melbourne Renegades and with the Sixers already assured of a place in the semi-finals, Smith’s already eyeing the silverware.
"It's great to be back with the boys, they're a great crew and we're heading in the right direction,” he said.
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“It's a well-balanced team, quality batters and bowlers, good power, good smarts, and in T20 cricket you need a mixture of all of that. We have that at the moment. Hopefully we can keep gaining momentum and come finals time we can put on a show.”
Smith’s not the only international rejoining the Sixers at the serious end of the BBL with Nathan Lyon already back in magenta and Josh Hazlewood returning against the Renegades.
Australia’s fast bowlers were all take an extra couple of days to recover from their heavy workloads in the ODI series loss to India but the ‘Hoff’ is chomping at the bit after a mid-season cameo appearance where he bagged two wickets and hit three successive fours in Sydney’s win over Adelaide.
“When we were away with the one-day side he was talking up his batting and how well he did it in the back end of the game to finish it,” Smith said. “We heard all about it.”
With express bowler Sean Abbott also due back from injury soon, the Sixers look to be hitting their peak at the right time and Smith’s enthusiasm has become contagious.
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Smith lookalike Josh Philippe, who blasted an unbeaten half-century in the eight-wicket romp over the Heat, said the return of the Australian stars had re-energised the entire Sixers’ franchise with English import Tom Curran leaving after the match against the Renegades for international duty.
“I think we’ve got a really strong team with Smudge (Smith) back and Hoff’s going to come back next game so it adds a massive shank to our team and to our batting line-up and our bowling so I think we’ll be dangerous now,” he said.
“It’s just good to have him here. Having your idol in the same team is pretty exciting so hopefully I can spend a bit more time with him and play more time with him down the track.
“I think Hoff’s a massive addition to our bowling unit as well and obviously another massively experienced head, a great cricketer, a great bloke.”
Originally published as Steve Smith happy to be back in the BBL for Sydney Sixers