Steve Smith set for T20I comeback? Mark Taylor sends a strict message to Australian selectors

Former Australia National Cricket Team captain Mark Taylor said that Steve Smith should be recalled to the T20I squad. Mark Taylor stated that Australia’s top order has flaws after the retirement of veteran opening batter David Warner, who last played for Australia in the T20 World Cup 2024.

Australia was knocked out of the T20 World Cup 2024 without reaching the semi-finals in June. They lost to Afghanistan and India in the Super 8 stages of the tournament. It is worth mentioning that this was Australia’s second consecutive T20 World Cup without reaching the semi-finals.

Steve Smith was excluded from Australia's T20 squad for the tour of Scotland and England. The selectors backed young opener Jake Fraser-McGurk as a partner for Travis Head in the shorter format. Fraser-McGurk scored two ducks and 16 runs in the recent series win against Scotland.

I'd Like To See Steve Smith - Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor highlighted Australia’s middle-order struggles during the T20 World Cup 2024 match against Afghanistan on a slow pitch. Taylor suggested that Australia's current approach relies on multiple hitters, describing it as a flawed plan.

“I’m interested to see what Australia does from here on with that top order to replace Dave Warner,” said Taylor on Nine’s Wide World of Sports show.

"It seems to be at the moment it’s about putting more and more hitters in there and eventually one of them will come off. I think that’s a bit of a flawed plan because I’d like to see Steve Smith back in our order somewhere," he added.

Steve Smith made a notable impact in the 2024 Major League Cricket. He was the second joint-highest run-scorer of the event. Smith scored 336 runs in nine matches at an average of 56.00 and a strike rate of 148.67, including 88 runs off 52 balls in the final match against the San Francisco Unicorns.

Will Bat Well In All Formats - Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor urged the Australian selectors to include Steve Smith in the T20 side, as he can provide the necessary balance and adaptability. The former Australia skipper stated that Smith could play a key role in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

"I still think the better batsmen in the world will bat well in all formats so I just worry about our philosophy that Warner’s out, let’s go with another hitter.”

“I’d still like Australian selectors to think about putting Steve Smith back in the side somewhere to add a bit of stability for a slow pitch. On a flat pitch sure, put all your hitters in and go for it, try and make 200. On a slower pitch, sometimes 150 can be hard to chase as we saw when Australia played Afghanistan in the recent World Cup,” he concluded.

The 35-year-old batter last played a T20I match against New Zealand in February 2024. ALso, the right-handed batter has scored 1,094 runs in 67 T20Is at an average of 24.86 and a strike rate of 125.46. Smith has hit five half-centuries in his career, with a highest score of 90 runs against England in 2015.

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