Steve Smith has been a part of Australia’s T20I set-up since February 2010. He was a part of the country’s World Cup winning squad last year and ended up scoring 69 runs in six innings at 97.18. In 54 international 20-over games, the 33-year-old has scored 886 runs at an average of a little more than 26 and strike rate of 125.32. 

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While Smith has established his prowess in Tests, he is yet to cement his place as a full-time T20 batter. The former Aussie skipper admitted that he had been carrying the Mr Fix it tag for long. But it is high time to let it go. 

After being a key part of the Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Pune Warriors India and Rising Pune Supergiants in the IPL, Smith has scored 2485 runs in 103 matches. He has batted at an average of 34.51 and strike rate of 128.09. In the 2021 season for the Capitals, Smith scored 152 runs in eight games at a strike-rate of 112.59. 

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He will be seen in action in a three-match T20I series starting Wednesday. Steve Smith, in a conversation with cricket.com.au, revealed that he has been given the license to go out there and play explosively. 

“I’m pretty excited that tag’s been taken off, to be honest with you,” Smith told cricket.com.au. 

Aaron Finch and co would like to explore their options with the T20 World Cup in October-November in Australia. The emergence of Tim David as a big-hitter puts Smith’s place in the squad at risk. 

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“Diva (stand-in coach Michael di Venuto) actually told me the other day … he said ‘we’re getting rid of that tag, that’s gone. Just go out and play freely. If you want to smack your first or second ball for six, go for it’. And I’m like, ‘yeah, that’s cool’,” Smith added. 

“So now it’s just about going out and playing freely and trusting my instincts, which I think I’ve done well over any format for a long time, instead of being a bit more reserved and trying not to get out, which I don’t think the right way to play T20 cricket.”

“They’ve got rid of that ‘Mr. Fix-it’ tag.”

The Aussies play Sri Lanka in the first T20I at Colombo.