“They’ve Got Rid Of ‘Mr. Fix-it’ Tag”: Steve Smith Is Granted Permission To Thrill Ahead Of Sri Lanka T20Is. Steve Smith, who has never been known to tee-off from the start. Become adept at the anchor role in T20Is over time, but he has now been given the green light to take the attack to the bowlers.
Steve Smith was once one of the most sought-after batters during Indian Premier League auctions. But as it turned out, the Australian superstar was given the cold shoulder in the IPL 2022 mega auction going unsold. Smith, who was never known to be a tee-off batter from the start, has become adept at the anchor role over time, while others around him do the big-hitting. Steve appeared in eight IPL 2021 matches, scoring 152 runs at a strike rate of 112.59. Smith scored 69 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 97.18 in the T20 World Cup.
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But now Steve Smith has been given permission to go out there and attack the bowlers.
“To be honest, I’m pretty excited that tag has been removed. ” Smith told cricket.com.au ahead of Australia’s first T20I against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
“The other day, Diva (stand-in coach Michael di Venuto) told me. ‘We’re getting rid of that tag, that’s gone.’ Simply go out and play. ‘Go for it if you want to smack your first or second ball for a six.’
“And I’m like,’sure, that’s cool.’
“So now it’s just about going out and playing freely and trusting my instincts, which I think I’ve done well in any format for a long time, rather than being a bit more reserved and trying not to get out, which I don’t think is the right way to play T20 cricket,” the right-hander explained.
“They’ve dropped the ‘Mr. Fix-it’ moniker.”
It will be interesting to see how Smith handles his new responsibilities. Fans may get their first glimpse of him in his new role later today, when Australia takes on hosts Sri Lanka in the first T20I in Colombo.