Tale of two halves: Decoding Steve Smith's dominance and decline in Test cricket

Analysing Steve Smith's Test decline [Source: AFP Photo]

Steve Smith, when he retires, will arguably go down as one of the best Test batters of all time and the Australian cricketer has had a remarkable career, winning Test matches for his side and scoring truckloads of runs. When we talk about the greatest Test peak of all time, Smith’s name will surely come on the top.

From 2013-2019, the Australian number 4 ran Test cricket and was at the peak of his powers, becoming the undisputed King of the red-ball format. However, post the Covid-era, things have changed and despite still scoring runs, Smith is not the same batter anymore and the stats reveal the story.

Steve Smith Test stats from 2013-2019 (peak years)

Smith had a Test turnaround during the Ashes 2013 as he led from the front with the bat and didn’t look back afterwards. He churned out plenty of runs and scored centuries for fun as the stats reveal the story of his greatness.

(Smith in Tests from 2013-19)

• In what is considered one of the greatest Test domination, Smith was at his imperious best from 2013-19 and in the seven-year time, he scored 6905 runs, with a staggering average of 65.76.
• In the timeframe, he slammed 26 Test tons and an equal number of fifties, and none of his contemporaries came close to him in terms of run-scoring in red-ball cricket.
• Amongst the leading run-getters from 2010-2019, Smith had the best average (62.84) as the Australian batter was at the peak of his powers and toyed with bowlers for fun.

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Steve Smith Stats

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Steve Smith Test stats from 2020-present

Since the start of 2020, Smith’s output has declined in Tests, and despite still being the best red-ball batter of his team, the aura has faded and it was evident in the ongoing Ashes.

(Smith in Tests from 2020-present)

• In the last six years (since 2020), Smith’s numbers have dropped, and the table reveals the story. In 50 matches, he has racked up 3425 runs, at an average of 45. Now, an average of 45 is not bad, but considering that at the peak of his powers, Smith averaged almost 66, so it is a sharp decline in the last six-years.
• He has slammed 10 Test centuries in the same period, but the ongoing Ashes has revealed that bowlers have found ways to tackle him. In the Ashes 2025-26, the Australian star has only scored 112 runs, with a modest average of just 37.33.

Have bowlers found chinks in Smith's armour?

• Smith’s Test success has not come due to his impeccable text-book technique, but rather an unconventional way that has worked for him. He moves a bit too much around the crease and has a wide stance as bowlers take advantage of it. He gets stuck on the crease and there is a good chance for lbw to come into place.
• During the New Zealand tour of Australia in late 2019, Kiwi pacer Neil Wagner, attempted an interesting tactic to unsettle Smith. He cramped him for room as the left-arm seamer targeted his left-shoulder region with short-pitched deliveries. Moreover, the New Zealand side kept fielders near the square region on the leg side as Smith was cramped for room, and he often used to give simple catches on the leg side.
• This was a tactic that England tried in the second Test match when Brydon Carse bowled a short ball, and Smith pulled it straight to the fielder in the deep.

Conclusion

During his peak years, Steve Smith was untouchable in Tests, and the stats revealed the story. However, as age caught up and as the Australian batter played numerous Test matches, the opposition bowlers found his weaknesses and as a result, his average dropped down to 45 in the last six-years.

From 2013-19, he averaged almost 66, but bowlers found different ways to get him out and the Australian star needs to work on those weaknesses to prolong his red-ball career.

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