Ben Dwarshuis has participated in four matches, Nathan Ellis in eleven, Cooper Connolly in three, and Tanveer Sangha in three.

This was the situation Steve Smith faced during the Champions Trophy semifinal on Tuesday. Excluding Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell, this represented the entirety of his bowling options. With this lineup, he was tasked with defending a total of 264 runs against a formidable Indian batting order, renowned for its array of talented stroke-makers, as highlighted by Ravindra Jadeja batting at No. 8.

Smith did not request this scenario. Perhaps he did not even desire it—though it is clear he possesses a unique resilience—but this was the reality he had to navigate. The Australian captaincy had fallen to him only because Pat Cummins, the leader who guided the team to victory in both the World Test Championship and the 50-over World Cup in 2023, was sidelined due to injury, as was Mitchell Marsh, the captain for Twenty20 Internationals.

How the 35-year-old skillfully orchestrated his bowlers, adjusted field placements with creativity and strategic intent, and extended the match until the second-to-last over served as an exemplary demonstration of captaincy. It illustrated the essence of leadership and the ability to optimize available resources rather than lamenting what is lacking.

That final statement, upon reflection, epitomizes Smith's essence. Few individuals have maximized their potential as he has, and as he departs from the ODI arena, it is important to remember that despite his idiosyncrasies and unconventional style, he will be remembered as one of Australia's premier 50-over batsmen. While he may not possess the intimidating presence of Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, or Ricky Ponting, nor the flamboyance of David Warner and Glenn Maxwell, and certainly not the grace of Mark Waugh—who can?—his effectiveness and efficiency are unparalleled.

Commencing with the unfortunate news, Smith has announced his retirement from 50-over internationals following his team's four-wicket defeat to Rohit Sharma. On a brighter note, he will continue to participate in Test cricket and remain available for T20 internationals. This indicates that he still has much to contribute, a fact supported by his impressive record of four centuries in his last five Test matches.

There is a strong rationale for Smith to step away from ODI cricket as he aims to prolong his career. Test cricket remains his primary passion, motivating him to rise early and engage in training and practice daily; he boasts an average of 56.74 across 116 matches, with 36 centuries to his name. After a prolonged period without a century—25 innings, to be precise—he has regained his form and is confident that he has several productive years ahead.

While he may not be a guaranteed selection for T20 internationals in the long term, he made a notable impact upon his return during the latter stages of this year's Big Bash League and is keen to explore opportunities in franchise cricket. The longer format of white-ball cricket is becoming somewhat tedious, lacking significant context outside of international tournaments. Participation in ICC events necessitates involvement in bilateral series, and with the next major ICC competition not scheduled until 2027, along with the World Cup, it seems a fitting farewell to One-Day Internationals. This reasoning is difficult to contest.

Steve Smith's only regret

One of Smith's significant regrets will be that he did not have the opportunity to captain his country in a World Cup. He was a member of the World Cup-winning teams in 2015 (under Michael Clarke) and 2023 (with Cummins as captain) and might have led the team in England in 2019 had it not been for the suspension imposed on him by Cricket Australia due to his involvement in the Sandpapergate incident in South Africa in 2018, during which he was the captain across all formats. This regret has been borne with a degree of acceptance; at that time, the angular, twitchy right-hander may have come to terms with the possibility of never leading his country again. However, circumstances later allowed him to assume that role intermittently, for which he has expressed gratitude for the second chance.

Smith was a creative and dynamic ODI batsman, possessing an exceptional ability to locate gaps and generate momentum. Without relying on sheer power, he achieved a strike rate of 86.96, alongside an average of 43.28 from 170 matches, illustrating his role as a stabilizing presence in the lineup. His highest score of 164, a remarkable achievement, occurred while he was captaining the team. Smith led Australia to victory in precisely half of the matches (32) in which he served as captain, and during those wins, he maintained an impressive average of 57.16.

In his final appearance—both as captain and ODI batsman—he scored a refined 73 before being dismissed by a full toss from Mohammed Shami. He shook his head in disbelief, first once and then again. A full toss! However, that moment was soon overshadowed by his strategic efforts in Australia’s spirited, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to defend a respectable total. His efforts were commendable, despite the outcome.

Read Also: Steve Smith Stuns Fans with Sudden ODI Retirement After Champions Trophy Exit

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