Despite enjoying recent successes in the role, Steve Smith is not yet ready to stake his claim at the top of Australia's T20 batting order.
Since making his return to the Big Bash with the Sydney Sixers, Smith has amassed 137 runs when facing the new ball, including a devastating century on Tuesday evening during the magenta side's 59-run rout of the Adelaide Strikers.
The veteran's rekindled form comes off the back of missing selection for the vast majority of Australia's T20 World Cup campaign last year. But while his domestic form has raised the possibility of a rebirth, Smith was content to play a straight bat to questions.
"I'm just going out and playing and doing my best and I guess we'll wait and see what the future holds," Smith stated ahead of his third start for the Sixers this summer.
"There's a while until another T20 international anyway, so I'm pretty chilled just playing and enjoying myself."
Australia will next mark centre in the form this September when they face the South Africans in enemy territory, a veritable eon away in contemporary scheduling terms.
Yet, with Aaron Finch's form as opener taking repetitive hits since Australia's World Cup final triumph in November of 2021, a place beside David Warner at the top of the scorecard may soon present itself.
As expressed by cricket.com.au, the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in 2024 has been circled by Warner as his farewell to the form. And with the ability to bow out alongside an old friend and confidante in Smith, the seeds for a fairytale ending have been sewn.
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In spite of his solidified position at three, Smith has experience as a white-ball opener, having learned the ropes with both Delhi and Rajasthan across recent IPL campaigns.
"I like it up top, who wouldn't want to open in T20 cricket," Smith said of the experience.
"It gives you a chance to play the ball as you see it early on, get yourself in and then once the fielders go out, you're in and ready to play your shots.
"It's been good fun and hopefully we can have some more success tomorrow night."
In a neat form of symmetry, Smith's Sixers and Warner's Thunder will do battle on Saturday night during the latest installment of the 'Sydney Smash'.
The opening ball of the near-sellout is scheduled for 7:05 pm (AEDT) at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
