Australia’s cricket star Steve Smith is having bad time in his career. First time since 2015, Smith is not in the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings and this shows he is not in form and playing well. Earlier, he had an important place in the squad and considered as the match saver for the Australian team in complex situations. However, now he might lose his place. In the last nine innings, he only scored an average 17.4 runs. He is currently the most out-of-form batter in the Australian squad, and because of this, he might be dropped from the IND vs AUS 3rd Test against Gabba, Brisbane.
Rankings going down
Smith not being in top 10 of ICC Test rankings is big problem for him and the Australian fans. Earlier, he and Virat Kohli were best batters in the world, but now both are not in top rankings. This shows both great players are not doing well. Smith’s average of 56.09 is good, but lowest since 2016. It means he is struggling for two years. But his teammate Travis Head is doing very well, now at 5th rank.
Smith’s dip in form and average
The 35-year-old is not playing some good cricket over the years for many reasons. He is getting old, so his eyes and hands coordination are not working well together. Also, other teams have found ways to get him out by bowling at his legs and body. In 2024, he only made 232 runs in 13 innings, averaging 23.20 runs. He did not make any century, only one half-century. This is very bad compared to 2014-2017 when he was scoring more than 70 runs on average.
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Steve Smith’s form in 2024
Drop in Batting Average: Smith’s average in his prime years (2014–2017) consistently exceeded 70, with an all-time high of 81.85 in 2014. In 2024, his average has dropped to 23.20, which is his lowest since 2010 (23.37).
Decline in Consistency: From 2014 to 2017, Smith regularly scored centuries (5–6 per year) and maintained a high number of half-centuries. In 2024, he has managed only one half-century and no centuries in 13 innings, indicating inconsistency.
Strike Rate and Scoring Ability: Smith’s strike rate in 2024 (48.13) is well below his career norms, indicating he’s scoring runs slower than usual. His boundary count is notably low, with only 25 fours and 1 six, reflecting a lack of fluent scoring.
Comparison with Recent Years: In 2023, Smith had a respectable average of 42.22 and three centuries, but his strike rate had already shown signs of slowing (46.89). The stark drop in 2024 to an average of 23.20 and only 232 runs across 13 innings shows a sharp decline.
What Will Happen Now?
As Australia is getting ready for the third Test against India, fans are asking if Smith will play. He has a lot of experience, but the team and fans are getting impatient. Smith needs to start playing well again and change his game. We will see if he can become good again or if his career will end soon.
