Steve Smith added to Australia’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad as standby option

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed the veteran Steve Smith as the first player that Australia will get if there is a sudden emergency situation in the World Cup campaign. Australia have not kept many backups despite several injuries piling up for them.

Australia have been struggling with several injuries to many crucial players who are part of the campaign. The likes Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have been injured for a longtime and their recovery ahead of the World Cup is under severe doubt.

Batters Tim David and Josh Inglis were also not part of the first T20I against Pakistan alongside skipper Mitchell Marsh. Australia started off the pre-World Cup preparatory games under the leadership of Travis Head, their designated vice-captain.

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Steve Smith had a prolific season in the BBL

Largely known as one of the greatest ever Test cricketers of the generations and one of the all-time legends in the format from Australia, Steve Smith has proven time and again that he can also be a real asset in white-ball cricket.

Returning from a successful Ashes campaign, Smith played 6 matches in the BBL and went on to amass 299 runs at an average of 59.80, only behind the great David Warner and a strike rate of 167, only behind Perth Scorchers opener Finn Allen.

Despite his supreme form, he isn't travelling to India and Sri Lanka for the ICC T20 World Cup, but his terrific run in the Big Bash League has earned him the reputation of an explosive opening batter. However, the player has had the ill fate of not being picked in the IPL auction multiple times in recent seasons.

Ricky Ponting backs Steve Smith as a replacement for the ICC T20 World Cup

Steve Smith has not played a single T20I game for Australia since February 2024 and was not part of the previous ICC T20 World Cup squad for Australia. He was snubbed from the upcoming season as well, while Smith has now probably shown that he is very much capable of shifting gears and adapting to the power-oriented approach.

“His numbers stack up better than anybody else's. But when you've been out, and the side's had some success, and Travis Head and Mitch Marsh are the incumbents, it's hard to push one of those two guys out of an opening slot,” Ponting said to The Western Australian.

With his latest BBL antics, Smith's name has suddenly received the spotlight for a World Cup call-up if any further injury strikes the Australian contingent during the marquee tournament. Ricky Ponting has backed him for the same.

“And poor Steve has probably been pigeonholed as an opening batsman only in the T20 game, which probably has held him back a little bit in the last few years as far as selection is concerned.

"But he's only one little injury away. He's the next cab off the rank, and he's ready to go,” he explained, backing his countryman to be raring and ready to go whenever he is needed.

Will Australia need Smith to bolster their T20 World Cup campaign?

Australia have a well-decked playing XI which comprises everything needed in a T20I side. While the opening partnership seems determined with the skipper and an explosive partner in Travis Head, the middle order is also full of explosive options.

Tim David, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell and Cooper Connolly might be in the middle-order deck for the Aussies. However, with such a strong side, Steve Smith, despite his form, cannot break in until any player is ruled out due to injury.

However, the new and improved version of the Australian batter Steve Smith might help them in a moment of crisis. Australia will play their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka.

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