Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has urged the national selectors to bring Steve Smith back into the T20I squad. Taylor believes that after David Warner’s retirement, Australia’s top-order strategy is flawed.
He thinks the team is now focused too much on power hitters, which doesn’t always work, especially on slower pitches. Taylor feels Smith can bring much-needed stability to the team.
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Why does Mark Taylor want Steve Smith back?
Taylor pointed out that during the T20 World Cup, Australia’s defeat to Afghanistan exposed the lack of a dependable middle-order player. He highlighted how the team struggled on a slow pitch, where a player like Smith could have made a difference.
“I’m interested to see what Australia does from here on with that top order to replace Dave Warner. It seems to be at the moment it’s about putting more and more hitters in there and eventually one of them will come off. I think that’s a bit of a flawed plan because I’d like to see Steve Smith back in our order somewhere,” said Taylor on Nine’s Wide World of Sports show.
According to Taylor, Smith’s ability to perform on different types of pitches makes him valuable in all formats of the game. He explained that while hitters may succeed on flat pitches, a slower surface requires more skill and control, which Smith can provide.
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What is Mark Taylor's vision for the future?
Looking ahead, Taylor sees a place for Steve Smith in the 2026 T20 World Cup. He hopes the selectors reconsider their approach and bring Smith back for more balance in the team.
Taylor concluded by saying that having Smith in the lineup would help in difficult conditions, where runs are harder to chase.
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