Steve Smith has been one of Australia’s sharpest cricket minds of the modern era. Even with ups and downs in his leadership journey, his influence remains unmatched. His clear reading of match situations, bold field changes, and instinctive decision-making have always set him apart.
Smith’s captaincy career took a major hit during the 2018 South Africa tour. He was banned for a ball-tampering incident while leading the side, which halted his rise as a long-term Australian captain.
Despite the setback, Smith continued to guide Australia from a strategic standpoint. Many experts, including Mark Taylor and Michael Clarke, have said that Smith quietly played a major role in Australia’s campaign during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Even though Pat Cummins was the official captain, Smith assisted with crucial decisions—such as planning the off-side heavy field and bowling plan that dismissed Suryakumar Yadav in the final.
Like Shane Warne—widely regarded as a cricket genius who never captained Australia—Steve Smith will be remembered as a leader whose influence went far beyond official titles.
Below is a complete look at Steve Smith’s captaincy record across formats.
Steve Smith Captaincy Record in All Formats
| Format | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | No Result | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 36 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 58.33 |
| ODI | 54 | 27 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 52.94 |
| T20I | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Total | 98 | 52 | 38 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 53.06 |
Also Read: Steve Smith Biography
Steve Smith Captaincy Record in Test Cricket
| Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | Draw | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 21 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 58.33 |
Smith became Test captain after Michael Clarke’s retirement and quickly shaped Australia into a strong red-ball side.
His calmness under pressure and aggressive field placements were key traits of his leadership.
He led Australia in several major Test series, including the Ashes, Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and tours of New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Under him, Australia played fearless cricket and regained the number one Test ranking for a period.
Smith’s leadership era ended abruptly due to the 2018 Sandpapergate incident, but his tactical influence remains admired worldwide.
Also Read: Shai Hope Captaincy Record
Steve Smith Captaincy Record in ODI Cricket
| Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 27 | 24 | 0 | 3 | 52.94 |
Smith led Australia in ODIs across a transition period after 2015.
His ODI captaincy included several high-intensity series against India, New Zealand, and England.
Even after losing the official leadership, he remained a decision-maker in the dressing room, especially during the 2023 Cricket World Cup, where Australia lifted the trophy.
Many former players openly credited Smith for field settings, bowling plans, and mid-innings adjustments during crucial matches.
Also Read: Pat Cummins Captaincy Record
Steve Smith Captaincy Record in T20I Cricket
| Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
Smith’s T20I captaincy stint was brief.
He led Australia in selected series and played a guiding role for younger players.
His decisions in crunch moments reflected his deep understanding of T20 tactics, especially field placement and matchups.
Steve Smith Captaincy Record in IPL & BBL
| Tournament | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | Rising Pune Supergiant | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 |
| BBL | Sydney Sixers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
Smith’s most memorable franchise captaincy moment came in the 2017 IPL, where he led Rising Pune Supergiant to the final.
His leadership style—calm, calculated, and tactically smart—was praised throughout the season.
He also briefly captained the Sydney Sixers in the BBL.
Steve Smith’s captaincy career may not have lasted as long as expected, but his cricketing mind remains one of the best the sport has seen. His strategic influence, especially in major tournaments, proves why he is considered one of the sharpest thinkers in modern cricket.