Dubai: Steven Smith, the hero of Australia's victory over West Indies is only 20 years old. He has shown tremendous potential as an excellent leg-spinner with a three-wicket spell that wrecked West Indies on their home ground on Tuesday. Smith is also a good batsman and is likely to clinch a place among the world's best allrounders soon.
Smith owes his success to Twenty20 cricket. He caught the attention by helping New South Wales win the inaugural Champions League title in India last year. He was also their leading wicket-taker in the Big Bash tournament.
Smith is now being considered a better spinner than Nathan Hauritz. He is also a hard-hitting right -handed batsman, who recently hit 81 runs off just 58 deliveries for New South Wales Blues. He has a boyish look and is a jovial player. Recently, in a club match in Australia, he took guard as a left-handed batsman and even hit a six.
Smith adores all his seniors in the team. He recently bagged the Steve Waugh medal for the New South Wales player of the year and announced that it was a "life changing honour." He had also bagged the Sheffield Shield Player of the year award scoring 772 runs at an average of 77.20 and bagging 21 wickets.
Smith recently spent time with Shane Warne at Melbourne Cricket Ground and returned stronger as a bowler. After the session, Smith said: "I've slowed my run up and I've got my shoulder up at the moment of delivery. Warne's tips were really useful. Though they were only minor changes, but it has worked very well for me."
