Steve Smith has been an integral part of Australia’s cricket journey in the last decade. Smith has also served as the skipper for the side, albeit predominantly in the longer formats of the game. In 2024, the former captain does not find a place in the scheme of things for the upcoming T20I World Cup. 

Cricket Australia’s Chief Selector, is former captain George Bailey. Bailey did not seem convinced with Smith, despite the batter having loads of experience in the shortest format of the game. 

Smith missing out on the plane to the United States, however, has not come as a surprise to many. The Sydney Sixers batter was down in the pecking order in terms of selection, as revealed by the selection committee of the Australian Cricket Team.

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Why was Steve Smith omitted from Australia squad for T20 World Cup?

George Bailey revealed that Steve Smith did not find a place in the reckoning for the upcoming T20I World Cup. The 34-year-old was denied a place in Australia’s 15-man squad, due to the presence of Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, and Travis Head. 

Even the likes of Jake Fraser McGurk were omitted from the squad, alongside Steve Smith. Bailey revealed how the selection committee saw Smith as a top-order batter, which was already settled, just ahead of the World Cup.

I think his (Steve Smith) best T20 work of late has come at the top of the order, and at the moment, we see that top order being really settled, Bailey told Metro.

However, the former Australia skipper has motivated Smith, saying he had a lot to offer across formats, for Australian Cricket in the future.

I still think he’s got an enormous amount of good cricket left ahead of him, across what formats, I think that’s as much up for him to decide,” Bailey said Metro.

What is Steve Smith’s T20I record?