Australian cricket great Steve Smith has announced his retirement from international one-day games but continues to play in T20 cricket with hopes of making a comeback as he scored his fourth BBL century during the Sydney Smash in the 15th edition of the BBL.
Australian batting great Steve Smith has joined the Sydney Sixers playing eleven for the remainder of the BBL season after ending his Ashes streak with the Australian national team. They made a comeback against the Hobart Hurricanes, but that game was washed out by rain.
Steve Smith is giving Australian selectors every reason to want him to be a part of the ICC T20 World Cup squad, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka in 2026. Moreover, it is also a shame that despite his best performances in the BBL, he has not got an IPL contract in the last three seasons.
Steve Smith played a carefree innings in BBL; ICC T20 World Cup selection on the line
Steve Smith not only batted brilliantly for his century in the BBL but also stitched a huge partnership with Babar Azam to provide the Sixers the early momentum needed to chase down the target of 190.
However, apart from scoring runs for his team, batsman Steve Smith showed all his finesse and scored a century off just 41 balls, a flawless and carefree innings in the Australian league.
Smith hit 9 sixes and 5 fours during the innings and scored his century at a strike rate of 238.09. Sydney Sixers won the match with 16 balls to spare and Steve Smith would be awarded the Player of the Match award.
Smith has become the player with most centuries in BBL
The Australian superstar stunned everyone with his masterclass performance as he also had the most successful season in the history of the BBL. Smith scored 32 runs in a single over against Ryan Hadlee, which is the highest score in a single over in the history of BBL.
Steve Smith, with his fourth century in the history of the Big Bash League, became the player with the most centuries in the history of the tournament, surpassing his record and that of former Australian teammates David Warner and Usman Khawaja.
After playing 36 matches in his BBL career, he scored 1318 runs at an average of 48.81 and a strike rate of 150+. He has eight half-centuries and four centuries in his BBL career.
Australian fans have warned Cricket Australia they will “pay a price” for leaving Steve Smith out of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The greatest batsman I have ever seen
– Jai (@DR3Propaganda) 16 January 2026
Don’t know why Australia didn’t pick him, they don’t have any upgrades anyway
– PingPong (@Trojanhorse1225) 16 January 2026
It’s a shame that we won’t get to see this monstrous version of Steve Smith in the T20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/sTigsrGQ6o
– Honey (@stevensmithclub) 16 January 2026
Fastest century in BBL history
Craig Simmons (39 balls)
Mitchell Owen (39 balls)
Steve Smith*(41 balls)
Glenn Maxwell (41 balls)Steve Smith is making history .pic.twitter.com/qOIffbGopw
– JB (@93yorkers) 16 January 2026
32 runs in an over – highest runs in an over in BBL history
4 consecutive sixes
Steve Smith scored a century in 41 balls
– Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) 16 January 2026
Oh man, is she on edge again?
– Utsav Bhati (@bhati_utsav) 16 January 2026
Steve Smith is ridiculous, what an innings. It would be better if the Australian selectors take him to the T20 World Cup.
– Mhukahuru 16 January 2026
Also read: Ricky Ponting takes a dig at India with ‘not like I was there’ comment