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Steve Smith

Steve Smith is an Australian international cricketer known for his right-handed batting and leg-spin bowling.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Steve Smith is an Australian international cricketer known for his right-handed batting and leg-spin bowling. A former captain of the Australian men's team, he is widely regarded as one of the leading Test batsmen of his generation and has also played domestic cricket for New South Wales and Sydney Sixers.

Early life and background

Steve Smith was born in Sydney in 1989 and developed as a cricket talent in Australia. Early in his career he was used as a leg-spin bowling all-rounder before evolving into a specialist batter.

International career

Smith became a mainstay in Australia’s Test side and later served as captain. His batting records and rankings established him as one of the dominant Test players of his era. He has been among the top-ranked Test batters in the world and reached a Test rating of 947 in 2017, the second-highest in history behind Don Bradman.

Domestic and franchise cricket

At domestic level, Smith has represented New South Wales and the Sydney Sixers. He has also played in various franchise leagues and was recognized for his strong batting performances in T20 cricket.

2018 ball-tampering scandal

Smith was central to the 2018 Australian ball-tampering controversy, which led to a suspension from international cricket and the loss of the captaincy. The episode became a major turning point in his career.

Key facts

  • Smith began his career as a leg-spinner before becoming primarily known as a batter.
  • He served as captain of the Australian men's cricket team.
  • He reached a Test rating of 947 in 2017, the second-highest in history behind Don Bradman.
  • He was involved in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal and was banned from international cricket for one year.
  • He won major team honours with Australia, including Cricket World Cups and the ICC World Test Championship.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Steve Smith?
Steve Smith is an Australian cricketer, best known as a right-handed batter and former captain of Australia’s men's team.
What is Steve Smith’s full name?
His full name is Steven Peter Devereux Smith.
What teams has Steve Smith played for?
He has played internationally for Australia and domestically for New South Wales and the Sydney Sixers.
What is Steve Smith’s batting style?
He bats right-handed and also bowls leg break googlies.
Was Steve Smith involved in a scandal?
Yes. He was involved in the 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal and received a one-year ban from international cricket.
Is Steve Smith considered a top Test batter?
Yes. He has been widely regarded as one of the best Test batters of his era and reached the ICC’s top Test batting ranking.

References

  1. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Smith_(cricketer)
    Supports: Full name, date of birth, nationality, captaincy, rankings, domestic teams.
  2. Cricket Australia — https://www.cricket.com.au/players/CA:1075/steve-smith
    Supports: Career overview and transition from leg-spinner to elite batter.
  3. ICC — https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/cricketworldcup/teams/1/players/4308/steven-smith
    Supports: Player profile, nationality, role, batting and bowling styles.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_cricket_centuries_by_Steve_Smith
    Supports: Captaining, ban in 2018, century totals, and career context.
  5. BBC Sport — https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/cx2x01728x4o
    Supports: ODI retirement and career highlights.