Michael Clarke fumes at Aussie selectors’ ‘embarrassing’ Steve Smith backflip

Michael Clarke is still fuming at Steve Smith’s omission from last year’s World Cup, blasting the national selectors for an “embarrassing” backflip.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke is still fuming at Steve Smith’s omission from last year’s T20 World Cup, blasting the national selectors for their “embarrassing” backflip.

Smith was dropped from Australia’s T20 side last season following an underwhelming couple of years in the game’s shortest format.

Despite predominantly batting in the top four, he could not muster a half-century in 23 consecutive T20I knocks, with his most recent fifty coming back in November 2019.

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The right-hander has averaged 19.23 in T20Is since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a strike rate of 115.41 – the only recognised Australian batter with a lower strike rate during that period was Ben McDermott.

During Australia’s triumphant 2021 T20 World Cup campaign in the United Arab Emirates, he scored 69 runs in four knocks at a strike rate of 97.18.

After registering scores of 8 (5), 9 (10), 17 (16) and 7* (8) in warm-up matches ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup, Smith was axed to make room for white-ball globetrotter Tim David.

Australia won three of their four games in the tournament before missing out on the final series due to net run rate – Smith played one match in last year’s T20 World Cup, scoring 4 (4) against Afghanistan at Adelaide Oval.

Smith will bat at the top of the order in South Africa. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

However, the New South Welshman proved he could still be a T20 threat by smacking back-to-back centuries while opening for the Sydney Sixers in last season’s Big Bash League – a classy 101 (56) against the Adelaide Strikes in Coffs Harbour and an unbeaten 125 (66) against the Sydney Thunder at the SCG. They remain the two highest scores by a Sixers player in BBL history.

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch retired from international cricket earlier this year, creating a vacancy at the top of the order in the national T20 side. On Monday afternoon, chair of selectors George Bailey confirmed that Smith would open the batting in the upcoming T20 series against the Proteas in South Africa, taking over Finch’s role.

“It was pretty exhilarating, (Smith’s) innings in the Big Bash, and I thought it highlighted the skill set he has and what he can do,” Bailey told reporters.

“The way he played in the Big Bash, we wanted to see that replicated internationally.”

Steve Smith was dismissed out LBW for 4 in his only knock during last year’s T20 World Cup. Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images

Speaking to Sky Sports Radio‘s Big Sports Breakfast on Tuesday, Clarke confessed he “didn’t mind” Australia’s ODI and T20 squads for the South Africa tour, but vented his frustration with the “confusing” selection policy.

“I don’t understand (Smith’s selection) … that to me is embarrassing for the selectors,” Clarke said.

“They had him in the World Cup squad last year, and he couldn’t make the XI.

“He doesn’t get a game, we go terribly in the World Cup.

“Selections over the past 15 months have been absolutely confusing. Smith not playing in that World Cup, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“There’s just no accountability. It’s just swept under the carpet. I feel like I’m just watching a different game.

“I don’t know what they’re thinking with Smithy in the T20s. I don’t think he’s playing any other T20 cricket around the world. He’s not getting a gig in the IPL, didn’t get picked up there.

“He must still want to play though.”

Australia’s first T20 against the Proteas gets underway in Durban on August 30. Veteran opener David Warner has been rested for the three T20 matches, meaning Smith could open alongside Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short or Marcus Stoinis in South Africa.

Originally published as Michael Clarke fumes at Aussie selectors’ ‘embarrassing’ Steve Smith backflip