Steve Smith inks short-term deal with Sussex for this year's County Championship

Australia’s Test batting mainstay, Steve Smith, is all set to make his presence felt in this year’s County Championship as he has been signed by Sussex Cricket. Meanwhile, the veteran batter has only inked a short-term deal with the county club and the deal is to only play three matches this season.

Thus, Steve Smith will be available for Sussex’s three games against Worcestershire, Leicestershire and Glamorgan on May 4, 11, and 18 respectively. While the first two of them will be away fixtures, Sussex are scheduled to host Glamorgan at The 1^st Central County Ground.

Since Smith is one of Australia’s key members in the Test and ODI squads. Therefore, the Aussie could not commit to the club for the entire County season. Moreover, the middle-order batter will also be gearing up for the Ashes series in England and the ODI World Cup in India. 

Nonetheless, despite following a packed schedule, the 33-year old batter has managed to take some time off for three county games in England. Simultaneously, Smith can also take confidence from his outstanding batting performances on English soil in the 2019 edition, where he amassed 774 runs averaging 110.7 and a strike rate of 64.71. Henceforth, the Sydney-born player would be hoping to deliver an even better performance as the Aussies look to register a series win in England after 2001.

Steve Smith is currently the second-ranked batter in the ICC Men’s Test batters’ rankings. Apart from 37 half-centuries to his name in the longest format, the former skipper also has 30 tons at a stupendous average of 60.89.

Meanwhile, the Australian batting megastar would currently be focusing on scoring a truckload of runs in the upcoming four-match Test series against India starting February 9. The Aussies would be eyeing their first Test series win on Indian soil since 2004-05.

Notably, Australia have lost the last three editions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since having won it at home, back in the 2014-15 season.

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