Tune into the latest episode of The ICC Review

Steve Smith’s participation in the T20I format has been sporadic recently, with the 34-year-old playing only four matches for Australia since the last T20 World Cup in 2022. His performance has been underwhelming, with only one score above 20 in his new role as an opener.

With the 20-over showcase approaching, Australia’s squad selection is under scrutiny. David Warner and Travis Head are expected to continue their successful partnership, while Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Tim David are likely to secure their spots in the top six.

In a recent episode of The ICC Review, Ponting discussed Smith’s chances of making the squad. He believes Smith’s experience could be a valuable asset for the 2021 T20 World Cup champions. However, he also suggested that Smith might not make the starting XI.

Ponting’s comments come in the wake of Australia’s recent series in New Zealand, where Smith’s role varied. Despite this, Ponting believes Smith should be included in the squad, but not necessarily in the starting XI.

The question of who will captain the Australian team in the upcoming T20 World Cup remains open following Aaron Finch’s retirement. Mitch Marsh, Pat Cummins, and Matthew Wade have all been tested in the role, but Ponting believes Marsh is the best fit and anticipates his appointment as the full-time T20 captain.

Ponting praised Marsh’s leadership skills and maturity, recalling when Justin Langer named Marsh and Travis Head as joint vice-captains of the Test team. He believes continuity in the captaincy is crucial, especially given the rotation of fast bowlers in the T20 format.