Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis had recently labeled teammate Steve Smith as someone who is”infatuated with the game.” Stoinis believes that Smith’s desire to constantly improve is what has made him such a consistent performer.
Smith, who began his international career as a leg-spinner, has gone on to become one of the most successful batsmen in the world. He has scored over 15,000 runs across all formats, including 44 centuries and 72 half-centuries. He is also a key member of Australia’s World Cup squad in 2023.
In an interview with Revsportz, Stoinis said, “In terms of bringing the best version of himself to each contest, he is very similar to Virat Kohli. You’ve heard rumours about him not sleeping. He’s just obsessed with the game, with getting better, with strengthening his concentration. He’s a true professional, and I’m thrilled he’ll be competing in this competition. He’ll open the batting in T20 cricket as well.”
“I think this new, aggressive Steven Smith in white ball cricket is getting better with each series. I’m excited to watch him, and I think he’ll be a dominant player in this World Cup, as we all expect,” Stoinis added.
Smith’s recent form in the Ashes has been a sign of things to come. He was the fifth-leading run-getter in the series, with 373 runs in five matches at an average of 37.30. He also scored a century and two half-centuries.
With Smith in such good form, Australia will be confident of their chances in the 2023 World Cup. The tournament will be held in India, which is a happy hunting ground for Smith. He has scored over 2,000 runs in ODIs in India, at an average of 50.