Early Life
Steve Smith was born on June 2, 1989, in Sydney, Australia. As a child, he showed great skill and interest in cricket which was evident when he played backyard cricket with his father.
School Years
In school, Smith’s talent continued to shine through as he outplayed many of his peers in the sport. His commitment and hard work eventually paid off when he made it into the Australian Under-19 cricket team that toured India for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
Career Beginnings
Smith’s professional career commenced in 2010 after he got selected into the New South Wales state team. He demonstrated remarkable skills and progressed rapidly from playing domestic cricket to representing Australia in international series within two years. Smith started making headlines not only because of his notable performances but also due to his unconventional batting style.
Becoming Test Captain
In December 2020, following an injury to Michael Clarke during the first match of the series against India, Steve Smith was named as the stand-in captain for the rest of the test series making him the youngest player to captain Australia since Kim Hughes.
His performance has earned him accolades globally being numbered among one of the best batsmen in world cricket.
Doping Scandal
The high point of Smith’s career came crashing down when he admitted involvement in a ball-tampering scandal during a test match against South Africa in March 2018. Alongside David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, Smith received a ban from all international and domestic cricket by Cricket Australia for one year.
Comeback Story
Smith made a determined comeback after serving his ban shocking critics with stunning scores at the cricket World cup in 2019 and during The Ashes series held later that year. He bounced back to form, cementing his legacy as one of Australia’s best betsman.
Personal Life
Smith is married to Dani Willis, a law student whom he had been dating since 2011. The couple tied the knot in September 2018.
Awards and Achievements
Despite his controversial career, Smith has received numerous awards such as Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy by ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2015 & 2017, ICC Test Player of the Year award in 2015 & 2017 and Allan Border Medal for the Best Australian Cricket player of the year twice, in 2015 and 2018. His mastery on the field continues to win him praises from spectators and critics alike even today.
