Steve Smith feels that the need of the leagues should be to care for the interest of domestic cricketers

Former Australia captain Steve Smith said that he has gotten away from being the anchor of the side and is prepared to play with more opportunities in the shortest format while Smith also lauded the local Australian players who are playing in the BBL.

Former Australia captain Steve Smith said that he has gotten away from being the anchor of the side and is prepared to play with more opportunities in the shortest format.

The accomplished player wound up with a less than impressive strike rate of 97.18 in the T20 World Cup played in the UAE last year. However, he showed looks at his capacity to play with more opportunity during the third T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele this year where he scored an unbeaten 37. It just so happens, that his career strike rate remains at 125.78. Smith’s position in the shortest format has come under examination; in the backdrop of Mitchell Marsh making progress at the number 3 slot and Tim David’s power-hitting takes advantage of it.

“I feel like when I’m playing good T20 cricket, I’m in that team for sure,”

Smith told reporters at Townsville’s Riverway Stadium.

“The role that I’ve been given the last couple of years is the ‘Mr. Fix It’ role and that tag’s been taken away from me now.

“For the Sri Lanka tour, I felt like I could go out and just play with a lot more freedom and nature and not have any kind of hesitation in the back of my mind. I can just take the game on and if I want to smack someone for six first balls, then I’m able to do that freely,”

he added.

However, Smith also lauded the local Australian players who are playing in the BBL and saw that the need of the leagues should be to care for the interest of domestic cricketers.

That is likely going to change when the new MoU will be formulated but Smith highlighted that some players are a bit disappointed about the remuneration they are going to get this season.

“I think [the draft] is interesting, I don’t know what the best way forward is. In terms of tournaments around the world, you have to look after your local players most importantly. And seeing some of the players who are coming out for big cash, I know a few of the local players, that are big players, are a little bit disappointed in terms of remuneration for the tournament. I think there’s going to have to be a way around that to keep your local players happy. I’m sure it is something to look at.”

Smith himself has been offered an agreement with Sydney Sixers to play after the final Test against South Africa in January next year but he hasn’t accepted the deal so far.

“I’m just keeping my options open at the moment, there are a few things I could do. I’ll see what happens.”