SL vs AUS | Steve Smith 'unshackled' by 'Mr Fix It' role as he heads into the T20Is

Champion Australian batter Steve Smith is pretty excited at the fact that he has finally been unshackled from the 'Mr Fix it' role in T20 cricket.

Smith, who started out as a dynamic white-ball cricketer, has not been at his best in the shortest format of the game in recent years.

The right-hander was tasked with the anchor's role at the last T20 World Cup, with Australia winning, but could only strike at 109 across the IPL and the World Cup both held in the UAE.

With Mitchell Marsh making the No 3 position his own, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis forming the core of the middle-order, Smith's place in the Australian T20 team has come under scrutiny.

The right-hander was also overlooked by the IPL franchises during the mega-auction earlier this year. 

However, Smith has now been given the licence to tee off from the start by the Australian management, and the former skipper is pretty excited.

"I'm pretty excited that tag's been taken off, to be honest with you. Diva (stand-in coach Michael di Venuto) actually told me the other day that 'we're getting rid of that tag, that's gone. Just go out and play freely. If you want to smack your first or second ball for six, go for it," Smith told cricket.com.au ahead of Australia's opening T20I against Sri Lanka.

"And I'm like, 'yeah, that's cool," he added.

"So now it's just about going out and playing freely and trusting my instincts, which I think I've done well over any format for a long time, instead of being a bit more reserved and trying not to get out, which I don't think the right way to play T20 cricket. They've got rid of that 'Mr. Fix-it' tag," he added.

Smith admitted that an anchor's role doesn't allow a batter to play as freely as he wants to.

He also touched upon the fact that it's very tough to play in a certain way when other batters like Maxwell are teeing off.

"When I'm playing the role that I was picked to play previously, you're not as aggressive or free-flowing as you could be," Smith explained.

"Then you see guys like 'Maxi' and 'Stoin' behind you and you suddenly feel pressure to turn the switch on straightaway," he added.

He signed off by stating that his strength lies in finding gaps and timing the ball rather than overhitting it.

"That's not the way I'd generally play the game. When I'm playing well, I'm just hitting the gaps really nicely, I'm not trying to over-hit the ball. I'm just playing what's in front of me, not thinking too much about getting out or letting the team down."

Meanwhile, Australia have named their starting XI for the 1st T20I against hosts Lanka, where Smith is slotted at the 5th spot, sandwiched between Maxwell and Stoinis.