WATCH: Steve Smith ‘fires on all cylinders’ as he takes stunning catch against Adelaide Strikers in BBL 12

Steve Smith has demonstrated to Australian selectors the strength he possesses in the T20 circuit with a magnificent century in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2022-23 for the Sydney Sixers, despite being absent from all but one game of last year’s 20-20 World Cup.

This was Smith’s second T20 century overall and first in the BBL. However, he would not get to see another ball as he was run out in the next over due to a mix-up with Sixers skipper Moises Henriques returning for a second run.

After his maiden century, when he came into the field in the second innings, he was exceptionally well. He took a stunner on the second ball of the 16th over which was bowled by left-arm spinner Steve OKeefe and the batter was Wes Agar. The batter slog-sweep towards deep mid-wicket and Smith came from the boundary, puts a dive, and grabs the catch.

Watch it here:

Smudge firing on all cylinders tonight! 🦸‍♂️ #BBL12 pic.twitter.com/tL0bwr5fSC

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 17, 2023

It was a nice wicket so I was just pleased to be able to get us off to a nice start: Steve Smith

A sold-out Coffs Harbour crowd of 9576 witnessed Smith’s stunning slog sweep six over square leg off Strikers off-spinner Ben Manenti, which brought him to 100 runs from 56 balls. It was one of his seven smashes to clear the fence. His first century (101 from 54), which came in the 2016 Indian T20 League for Pune france, was also his highest T20 score.

In addition, he ended a 12-year curse for the Sydney Sixers by becoming the team’s first male centurion after seven previous victories in the 1990s. Smith remarked after his knock that he was just delighted to perform his job for the team and helped the Sixers achieve a massive total of 5-203, their fourth-highest total of all time.

“It’s not about me, it’s about the team. It was a nice wicket so I was just pleased to be able to get us off to a nice start and post a decent total. I just slipped over a bit, that happens. It’s unfortunate when you’re on 100 to get out run out when it’s almost free hit time pretty much. So that was disappointing, I would have liked to get a couple more at the end but wasn’t to be,” he told the Fox Cricket broadcast.