Australia's Smith targets big role at T20 World Cup

Australia's Steve Smith believes he can play a bigger role in this year's ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign, should he be used in the hosts' tournament defence.

Making just 69 runs across four innings in last year's campaign, Smith has found fitting into Australia's T20I side tricky in recent times, often deployed to rebuild an innings after a poor start.

In spite of concerns of his game not being suited to the shortest format, the 33-year-old believes that he can be a valuable asset in national colours, as shown by a knock of 37* (27) to help the side to a series win against Sri Lanka in June.

“I feel like when I'm playing good T20 cricket, I'm in that team for sure," Smith told reporters on Tuesday.

“I think the role that I've been given in the last couple of years is the Mr. Fix-it sort of role, and that tag's been taken away from me now (since) the Sri Lanka tour."

While not known for brute force with the bat, Smith has played a number of dashing knocks in Australian colours, with all four of his half-centuries in T20Is coming at a strike rate of better than 140. 

Should he be entrusted to up the run rate in the middle order, Smith feels he can compliment the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and others around him, either posting ominous totals or chasing targets down in front of home fans.

"I felt like I could go out and just play with a lot more freedom naturally (in Sri Lanka) and not have any kind of hesitation in the back of my mind, like I need to be a bit more reserved or anything.”

“I can just take the game on and if I want to smack someone for six first ball, then I'm able to do that freely. When I'm playing my best, I play freely. I watch the ball and hit the gaps and just look to use the middle of my bat as much as possible.”

Australia's preparations for the tournament meanwhile have been struck a minor blow with news of Mitchell Marsh nursing an ankle injury.

Set to miss ODI Super League matches against Zimbabwe and New Zealand, the Australians are hoping to take the all-rounder to India in late September, with a three-match T20I series ideal preparation for their tournament defence.

Marsh is a rival to Smith for the No.3 spot, though Smith acknowledged his team-mate will play a big part in the home campaign.

“It's obviously not ideal for Mitch. He's been playing some really good white ball cricket recently."

"He was obviously a big part of our T20 World Cup campaign last year and I'm sure there's big plans for him this year, so I think the priority is to get him right for that."

Australia's T20 World Cup defence begins on 22 October, when they take on New Zealand in a re-match of the 2021 final in Sydney.