Australian star Steve Smith still hopes to be part of Australia's plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup according to cricket.com.au. Despite losing his spot, the batsman believes his touch will be an asset on Australia's big grounds.
While he was a part of Australia's triumph last year, his spot has recently been taken by the likes of Tim David and rising star Cameron Green. The Aussies are thought to want greater flexibility with their bowling options, hence the reason for Smith's omission.
Despite beginning his career as a wrist spinner, he is now sparingly used in that regard. With Green, David, Glenn Maxwell and the returning Marcus Stoinis all offering more with the ball, Smith has found himself in a squeeze for spots.
After being replaced for Wednesday's game against the West Indies, Smith was unsure if he would be a part of Australia's plans for the tournament, yet remained optimistic.
"Whether that's going to be the same going forward, I'm not really sure," he told media this week.
"We've got a really good depth to our squad. Tim David's come in and done really well. Everyone's in a good place. So we'll wait and see.
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"People talk about matchups for different oppositions and conditions – we've got a really good squad so we can pick it accordingly … we've got options whichever way we go about it."
With Marcus Stoinis now likely to take part in Sunday's first T20I against England in Perth, the competition for spots is tight.
Adding further intrigue is the fact that Mitch Marsh has flown to Perth and will miss Friday's T20I against the West Indies at the Gabba, leaving a potential top order spot for Smith.
Coupled with the news that Maxwell, among others, will miss Sunday's game in Perth, Smith may have multiple opportunities to press his claims.
With so many possible permutations for the Australians going into the World Cup, Smith is aware that he will need to offer something different to the explosive batting of Maxwell, Stoinis and David.
The former Australian Test captain believes his experience and acumen will count in his favour. His ability to pick gaps in the field, coupled with sharp running between the wickets keeps the scoreboard ticking over, a huge asset in limited overs cricket.
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This trait coupled with Australia's famed power hitting could prove to be a deadly combination when the World Cup rolls around, as it has in the past.
Previous World Cup winning limited overs teams contained the likes of Michael Bevan and Mike Hussey, batsmen not known for their power hitting but who could still amass big scores.
Smith believes on the larger grounds in Australia, this quality is something that could prove invaluable.
"For me, I'm not as strong and powerful as the some of the other guys." he said.
"But some wickets entail just good smarts and punching the ball and timing the ball really well, particularly in Australia with big grounds, running hard between the wickets, that kind of thing."
With so many incredibly talented players vying for spots in the squad for the World Cup, Australia is left with a bit of a headache, albeit a pleasant one to have.
