On This Day — Celebrating the Birthday of Australia’s Modern-Day Test Legend, Steve Smith

Smith has taken on top bowlers, dominating India’s R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, England’s James Anderson and Stuart Broad, and New Zealand’s Tim Southee and Trent Boult. His ability to outsmart attacks with a unique approach has made him a fan favourite. With a Test career boasting 10,271 runs at 56.74, including 36 centuries, Smith’s grit and genius continue to redefine batting excellence. Let’s have a look at his cricketing career.

Early Life and Domestic Career

Coming from a family where his Australian dad, Peter, a chemistry graduate, and English mom, Gillian, raised him in Sydney’s Kogarah, Steve Smith, born June 2, 1989, grew up with dual Australian-British citizenship. He went to Menai High School but left at 17 to chase his cricket dreams in England. A Sydney Roosters fan, Smith’s personal life blossomed when he began dating Dani Willis in 2011, a law student. They got engaged in New York in 2017 and tied the knot in Berrima, NSW, in 2018.

Smith’s cricket journey kicked off as a junior, swinging between fast-medium bowling and batting before settling on leg-spin at 15. In 2007, he played club cricket for Sevenoaks Vine in England’s Kent League, impressing enough to earn a spot with Surrey’s second XI. Back home, he was part of Australia’s 2008 Under-19 World Cup team, scoring 114 runs and grabbing seven wickets in four games. His first-class debut for New South Wales came in January 2008 against Western Australia, where he scored 33 in a winning effort. By 2009, he helped NSW clinch the Twenty20 Champions League, shining with 33 runs and two wickets in the final.

Smith’s domestic career took off in the 2009–10 season, boasting a first-class batting average above 50 after 13 matches. His leg-spin, mentored by Shane Warne, showed promise, especially when he snagged 7/64 against South Australia. In the Big Bash, he debuted for NSW in 2008, topping the wicket charts with nine, including a stellar 4/15 against Queensland, earning him second-best player honors.

When the Big Bash League launched in 2011–12, Smith joined the Sydney Sixers, stepping up as captain in Brad Haddin’s absence. He led them to the inaugural title, scoring 166 runs at a 130.71 strike rate and taking six wickets. In the final, his team chased 157 in 18.5 overs to beat Perth Scorchers. Smith’s early knack for leadership, sharp fielding, and growing batting skills laid the foundation for his rise as a modern cricket great.

Steve Smith’s International Career

With the legends of Australian cricket retiring, the team knew they needed someone to step up, and Steve Smith proved to be the perfect fit for the team. Coming in as a leg-spinner first, he went on to dominate the Test Format for the Australian team along with being decent for the team in the other two formats.

Smith debuted in February 2010 as a leg-spinner in a T20I against Pakistan, taking wickets with an average of 14.81 in the 2010 World T20, finishing as the joint-second-highest wicket-taker. His ODI debut followed that month against the West Indies. In July 2010, he played his first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s, batting low and taking 3/51 in the second innings. His 77 in the second Test showed batting promise. By 2010–11, he played three Ashes Tests as a number-six batsman, scoring two fifties.

After a two-year Test hiatus, Smith returned in 2013 during India’s tour, scoring 92 in Mohali. In the 2013 Ashes in England, he smashed his maiden Test ton (138*) at The Oval, hitting a six to reach it, totalling 345 runs. The 2013–14 Ashes saw him shine with 111 in Perth and 115 in Sydney, pioneering his signature “prelim movement” to counter short balls. In South Africa in 2014, he scored 269 runs, including 100 at Centurion. His 2014 UAE tour included a 101 in an ODI against Pakistan, earning him man of the series.

In 2014–15, Smith’s form soared. Against India, he scored 162*, 133, 192, and 117, captaining Australia in the second Test, winning 2–0, and earning man of the series with 769 runs. In the 2015 World Cup, he scored 402 runs, including 105 in the semi-final, helping Australia win. In the West Indies, he made 199 in Jamaica, and in the 2015 Ashes, his 215 at Lord’s made him the third-youngest Australian to 3,000 Test runs. He ended 2015 with ICC Test Player and Cricketer of the Year awards.

Named Test and ODI captain in 2015, Smith led Australia to a 2–0 win over New Zealand, scoring 138 in Perth. Against West Indies, he made 134* and 70. In 2016, a 3–0 loss in Sri Lanka was tough, but he scored 247 runs. A 5–0 ODI loss in South Africa followed, though he hit 108. At home, after a 2–1 Test loss to South Africa, he scored 164 in an ODI against New Zealand, a SCG record. Against Pakistan, he made 130, 165, and 441 runs, sweeping 3–0.

In 2017, Smith’s 499 runs in India, including 178* in Ranchi, stood out. The 2017–18 Ashes saw him dominate with 141, 239, and 102, scoring 687 runs at 137.40, retaining the urn 4–0. In 2018, a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa led to a 12-month ban, with Smith tearfully accepting responsibility. Returning in 2019, Smith scored 379 runs in the World Cup. In the Ashes, his 774 runs at 110.57, with 144 and 142 at Edgbaston and 211 at Old Trafford, earned him the Compton–Miller Medal.

A concussion from Jofra Archer’s bouncer sidelined him briefly. In 2019–20, he struggled against New Zealand’s short-ball tactics, averaging 42.80. In India 2020, he scored 131 in an ODI. The 2020–21 India series saw a century drought until 131 in Sydney, but Australia lost 2–1. In 2021, Smith became vice-captain under Pat Cummins. The 2021–22 Ashes saw him score 93 in Adelaide. In Pakistan in 2022, he reached 8,000 Test runs in 151 innings, averaging 56.50. In Sri Lanka, he scored 145*.

📸 from an illustrious ODI career 😍

Steve Smith leaves a lasting legacy for Australia 🇦🇺

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/dPhOrMeuVu pic.twitter.com/vqaAbmSKdw

— ICC (@ICC) March 5, 2025

In 2022–23, he made 200* against the West Indies and 104 against South Africa, becoming Australia’s fourth-highest Test run-scorer. In India 2023, he captained a Test win in Indore. In the 2023 World Test Championship final, his 121 helped Australia win. In the Ashes, he equalled Steve Waugh’s 32 Test tons.

A wrist injury and form slump hit in 2023–24, with Smith averaging 23.20 in Tests. In the 2024–25 India series, he scored 140 in Melbourne, reaching 10,271 runs. In Sri Lanka 2025, as captain, he hit 141 and 131, breaking records for most Test runs (2,117) and centuries (9) in Asia by an Australian, winning 2–0. In the 2025 Champions Trophy, he captained Australia, scoring 73 in his final ODI before retiring from the format.