Steve Smith
Personal information
Full name
Steven Barry Smith
Born (1961-10-18) 18 October 1961
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
BattingRight-handed
RoleBatsman
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 323)2 March 1984 v West Indies
Last Test28 April 1984 v West Indies
ODI debut (cap 75)6 February 1983 v New Zealand
Last ODI10 February 1985 v West Indies
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1981/82–1988/89New South Wales
1989/90–1990/91Transvaal
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 3 28 90 89
Runs scored 41 861 5,248 2,816
Batting average 8.19 39.13 35.94 38.57
100s/50s 0/0 2/8 12/26 3/25
Top score 12 117 263 117
Balls bowled – 7 115 277
Wickets – 0 1 7
Bowling average – – 77.00 29.28
5 wickets in innings – – 0 0
10 wickets in match – – 0 0
Best bowling – – 1/35 2/16
Catches/stumpings 1/– 8/– 66/– 20/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 12 December 2005

Steven Barry Smith (born 18 October 1961) is a former Australian and New South Wales cricketer. He played in three Test matches and 28 One Day Internationals between 1983 and 1985, taking part in tours of Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and India.

He joined the Australian rebel tours to South Africa in 1985–86 and 1986–87. He made 1163 runs at 52.86 and was named one of South Africa's Cricketers of the Year.

Career

Steve Smith made his first grade debut for Bankstown when he was 17. His mother's cousin was test batsman Norm O'Neill, but he claimed a greater influence on his game was his father, who was a grade cricketer. He says a crucial stage in his development as a batsman came when he was 20 and moved to opener.[1] Scores of 162 and 215 not out at the beginning of the 1981–82 season saw him make his first class debut for New South Wales that summer. He made 35 on his first class debut[2] and he ended up getting 245 runs at an average of 40.

Smith's good form continued the following season, making a top score of 263 in the Sheffield Shield, including 117 in a session.[3] He was selected in Australia's one day side and scored 117 off 130 balls in only his third game, against New Zealand.[4][5] These efforts led to him being picked in the Australian squad to tour Sri Lanka in 1983.

Smith scored consistently throughout the 1983–84 domestic season, making 480 first class runs at an average of 43.63. He established himself as an excellent one day international batsman, scoring 106 against Pakistan[6][7] and making two half centuries against the West Indies. He was picked to tour the West Indies in early 1984. There was some doubt he would be able to go after dislocating his shoulder during the one day finals[8] but he recovered in time.[9]

Test career

Smith started the tour of the West Indies brilliantly, scoring a century in each innings in his first match, a draw against Guyana – the first time that feat had been accomplished in that country in ten years.[10][11][12] He won the man of the match award and followed this up with 60 in the 1st one day international.[13] Smith's good form with the bat, along with Roger Woolley's poor work behind the stumps in tour games, prompted the selectors to pick Smith as opener and move Wayne B. Phillips down the order and play him as wicketkeeper.

Smith's first test was not a memorable one for him – he scored 3 and 12, and was dismissed twice by Joel Garner.[14] However he followed this with a useful knock of 27, batting at number three, which helped set up an Australian victory in the 2nd ODI.[15] He was meant to play in the second test, but fell ill and was replaced at the last minute by Dean Jones.

Smith recovered in time for the next tour game, against Barbados, and hit 66 in the second innings.[16] He was picked in the 3rd test but failed twice again, getting out both times to Malcolm Marshall.[17]

He was dropped for the 4th test, then hit a vein of form, scoring a century against the Windward Islands,[18] 84 against Jamaica,[19] and 50 in a one-day international.[20][21] Smith was recalled to the test team for the final test. He made 9 in the first innings and was injured so unable to bat in the second.[22]

Smith toured India in 1984, scoring a half century and impressing Sunil Gavaskar with the quality of his fielding. He played several one day games for Australia over the 1984–85 season, making three half centuries, and was only let go from the team due to injury.[23]

However he was unable to work his way back into the test team, failing to score a first class century all summer.[24]

South Africa

Smith had been approached by Graham Yallop during the India tour to see if he was interested in touring South Africa with an unofficial Australian XI. After he missed selection in the Australian sides to tour Sharjah or England in early 1985, Smith asked to be considered for the team going to South Africa. He signed to play for two seasons, 1985–86 and 1986–87.

When the news of the tour broke, tour organiser Bruce Francis claims Smith was one of several players Kerry Packer wanted to buy back into official Australian cricket, along with Dirk Wellham, Wayne B. Phillips and Graeme Wood. Packer succeeded in persuading those three not to go to South Africa, but not Smith.[25] Francis said he thought Smith wanted to go on the tour partly for the money – $200,000 after tax – but also because it gave him the chance to show he was not a one-day specialist.[26]

During the first South African tour Smith only played one "test", due to injury, but made the most of it, scoring a century in the first innings.[27] He also made two half centuries in the one day internationals.

During the second tour, Smith scored centuries in the 3rd[28] and 4th unofficial test matches.[29] He scored more first class runs on that trip than any other Australian batsman.[30]

Smith returned to Australia for two seasons but was unable to recapture his previous form, with a highest first class score of 84 over two summers. He moved to South Africa and played for Transvaal for two seasons, then retired from first class cricket.

Post-playing career

Smith ran an indoor cricket centre, became a batting coach for Bankstown as well as a New South Wales selector.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Dorothy, Goodwin (6 December 1981). "Steve's Running Hot". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 July 2012 – via Google Newspaper Archive.
  2. ↑ "It's just a question of tactics now for NSW". The Canberra Times. 21 December 1981. p. 24. Retrieved 6 January 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "CRICKET Opener rips Victoria". The Canberra Times. 29 January 1983. p. 40. Retrieved 6 January 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "2nd Final: Australia v New Zealand at Melbourne". ESPNcricinfo. 13 February 1983.
  5. 1 2 'Steve Smith's Century', The Age, 2 February 2007 accessed 22 July 2012
  6. ↑ "Smith's crisp 106 crushes Pakistan". The Canberra Times. 26 January 1984. p. 22. Retrieved 6 January 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "10th Match: Australia v Pakistan at Sydney". Cricinfo. 25 January 1984.
  8. ↑ Mossop, Brian (12 February 1984). "Tour Pair in Doubt". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 July 2012 – via Google Newspaper Archive.
  9. ↑ "WEST INDIES CRICKET TOUR Smith and Ritchie cleared to go". The Canberra Times. 14 February 1984. p. 20. Retrieved 6 January 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ↑ McFarline, Peter (2 February 1984). "Lawson troubled by sore back". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 July 2012 – via Google Newspaper Archive.
  11. ↑ "Guyana v Australians, Australia in West Indies 1983/84, Venue Bourda, Georgetown on 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th February 1984 (4-day match)". CricketArchive.
  12. ↑ "Australia 301 ahead Smith hits 116 in hint to selectors". The Canberra Times. 28 February 1984. p. 22. Retrieved 6 January 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ↑ "West Indies v Australia, Australia in West Indies 1983/84 (1st ODI), Venue Albion Sports Complex". CricketArchive. 29 February 1984.
  14. ↑ "West Indies v Australia, Australia in West Indies 1983/84 (1st Test) Venue Bourda, Georgetown on 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th March 1984". CricketArchive. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  15. ↑ "West Indies v Australia, Australia in West Indies 1983/84 (2nd ODI), Venue Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain on 14th March 1984 (50-over match)". CricketArchive.
  16. ↑ "Barbados v Australians, Australia in West Indies 1983/84, Venue Kensington Oval, Bridgetown on 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th March 1984". CricketArchive.
  17. ↑ "West Indies v Australia, Australia in West Indies 1983/84 (3rd Test), Venue Kensington Oval, Bridgetown on 30th, 31st March, 1st, 3rd, 4th April 1984". CricketArchive.
  18. ↑ "Windward Islands v Australians, Australia in West Indies 1983/84, Venue Mindoo Phillip Park, Castries on 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th April 1984". CricketArchive.
  19. ↑ "Jamaica v Australians, Australia in West Indies 1983/84 Venue Jarrett Park, Montego Bay on 23rd April 1984". CricketArchive.
  20. ↑ "West Indies v Australia, Australia in West Indies 1983/84 (4th ODI) Venue Sabina Park, Kingston on 26th April 1984". CricketArchive.
  21. ↑ "CRICKET Smith and Matthews make Test claims". The Canberra Times. 16 April 1984. p. 21. Retrieved 6 January 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ↑ "West Indies v Australia Australia in West Indies 1983/84 (5th Test) Venue Sabina Park, Kingston on 28th, 29th, 30th April, 2nd May 1984". CricketArchive.
  23. ↑ "Smith to miss tomorrow's cricket final". The Canberra Times. 11 February 1985. p. 1. Retrieved 6 January 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ↑ "Smith reminds the selectors". The Canberra Times. 17 March 1985. p. 6 Section: SPORT. Retrieved 6 January 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ↑ Francis p150
  26. ↑ Francis p133
  27. ↑ "South Africa v Australian XI, Australian XI in South Africa 1985/86 Venue New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on 16th, 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st January 1986 (5-day match)". CricketArchive.
  28. ↑ "South Africa v Australian XI, Australian XI in South Africa 1986/87, Venue Kingsmead, Durban on 17th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd January 1987". CricketArchive.
  29. ↑ "South Africa v Australian XI Australian XI in South Africa 1986/87 Venue St George's Park, Port Elizabeth on 30th, 31st January, 2nd, 3rd, 4th February 1987". CricketArchive.
  30. ↑ "First-class batting and fieldiong for Australian XI, Australian XI in South Africa 1986/87". CricketArchive.

Bibliography

  • Francis, Bruce (1989). Guilty? Bob Hawke or Kim Hughes?. ISBN 9780731653881.
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