Steve Smith is among the best batsmen in the world at the moment and is leading his team like all his counterparts. But how he became Australian skipper is a thing which he revealed in his autobiography. He explains that a conversation with Brad Haddin and Mark Taylor in a pub led him to be Australia’s 45th Test skipper.
This incident took place way back in December 2014; when India-Australia were playing a rather emotional Test series post the tragic death of Australian lad Phil Hughes. Then skipper Michael Clarke got injured during opening Test in Adelaide and vice-captain Haddin was ready to lead the side for rest of the series.
However, the chief selector Rod Marsh was already looking for the future and formally decided to hand over the reins to young Steve Smith. But it was the conversation with Haddin and Taylor, which shocked Smith. “‘Don’t you want to do it then?’ he (Taylor) said to Brad with a smile, perhaps thinking he was joking,” Smith wrote as per cricket.com.au. “‘Are you serious?’ said Mark, and then he turned to me and said: ‘are you ready?’.”
“I had absolutely no doubts that I was and said so, and with that Mark said, ‘I’ll go and make some calls then’,” added Smith.
The next morning, Marsh called Steve to inform this and said we already had this blueprint in our mind. Thus, Smith got the chance to wear Australian blazer and he started his stint with a win. Also, he notched up hundred in all of his first three Tests.
The 28-year-old launched his autobiography ‘The Journey’ earlier this week and revealed his wish list as a player. The list includes – win Ashes in 2019, win 2019 World Cup (both in England), World T20 title in 2020 and a Test series win in Asia.
While writing about it, Smith wrote: “None of these ambitions holds any more importance than any other, but if I can be part of sides that achieve them then that will be hugely rewarding.”
Smith’s next task is Ashes, which will commence in less than a month. He has a burden on his shoulders to bring the urn back to home.
