Steve Smith Is the Best Player I’ve Ever Played With, Says Aaron Finch

New Delhi, October 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

Former Australia white-ball captain Aaron Finch has described Steve Smith as the best player he has ever played alongside, crediting the star batter’s extraordinary transformation to a rare combination of natural talent, relentless hard work and unwavering belief in his own methods.

Smith began his international career as a leg-spinner who batted at No. 8, with many viewing him as a potential successor to legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne. However, he went on to establish himself as one of the finest batters of his generation, earning comparisons with some of the greatest names in Australian cricket and reaching the top of the Test batting rankings. He has also captained Australia across all three formats.

Recalling Smith’s evolution, Finch said the batter’s remarkable rise came after a significant change in his approach at the crease.

“Steve Smith went from being touted as Shane Warne’s replacement, starting at eight in the batting order, bowling a few overs of leg spin, getting the odd runs as the finisher. Then something changed overnight. He turned into this absolute gun of a batter that took the world by storm,” Finch said on ESPNcricinfo’s Cricketers on Cricketers show.

Finch explained that Smith initially relied on pronounced movements and an unconventional batting style before simplifying his technique and finding a method that brought sustained success.

“He was always a handsy player with big movements, moving his feet a lot. Then he simplified that and everything clicked,” Finch said.

He added that Smith’s ability to adapt to different positions in the batting order, particularly his transition to No. 4 after spending considerable time at Nos. 5 and 6, demonstrated his exceptional understanding of his game.

“The ability to go from number six and five for so long and then slip into number four in the batting order was extraordinary. He’s the best player I’ve ever played with by a mile,” Finch said.

Praising Smith’s confidence in his unconventional approach, Finch said the batter had the rare ability to recognise what worked for him without worrying about how others perceived his technique.

“He says, I’m doing it this way; I don’t care what it looks like to the outside world. This is what will make me most successful. That is a superpower,” he said.

Finch added that Smith’s success reflected both an innate gift and the countless hours he had invested in improving his batting, describing the combination as extraordinary.

Smith’s international career was significantly affected by the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, which resulted in a 12-month ban from cricket. He was also barred from holding a leadership position for two years before returning to a leadership role as vice-captain under current Australia Test skipper Pat Cummins.

Finch, who led Australia to victory at the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, believes the removal of captaincy responsibilities after the scandal helped Smith focus more fully on his individual game.

“After the 2018 incident, coming back into the international setup, Steve Smith was more relaxed as a player because he didn’t have the captaincy for obvious reasons. As captain, so much of your time goes into things away from your own game,” Finch said.

He explained that Smith’s demanding preparation routine could add to the mental burden of captaincy, as the batter had to balance his own requirements with the responsibility of managing the team.

According to Finch, being relieved of those additional duties allowed Smith to concentrate on his preparation and performance without the same leadership pressures.

Finch also admitted that captaining Australia with Smith in the team was initially challenging because he had previously played under him and greatly admired his tactical ability.

“I found it really difficult to captain with him in the side at the start, because I’d played under him for quite a bit of time and tactically, I thought he was an outstanding captain,” Finch said.

He recalled occasionally questioning his own decisions by wondering what Smith would have done in similar situations. However, Smith eventually encouraged him to trust his judgement.

“And then one day he just said, why do you keep asking me? Just make your own decision,” Finch recalled.

Finch also highlighted Smith’s performances during the knockout stages of the 2015 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which Australia won on home soil, as some of his most memorable experiences of playing alongside the batter.

“One of my favourite memories of playing with Steve Smith is the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup of 2015, when he was turning into a beast of a batter, batting at number three,” Finch said.

He recalled Smith’s contribution during Australia’s quarter-final against Pakistan, when the attention was largely focused on the intense contest between Pakistan fast bowler Wahab Riaz and Australian batter Shane Watson.

Finch said Smith’s composure at the other end was equally remarkable, adding that the batter handled Riaz’s pace with exceptional confidence.

Smith continued his impressive run in the semi-final against India, scoring a century off 89 balls, before remaining unbeaten on 56 in the final against New Zealand.

Finch said Smith displayed remarkable calmness throughout all three knockout matches, despite the enormous pressure associated with the decisive stages of a World Cup.

“Those three knockout stages are the most pressure games of a World Cup, and this guy was batting with absolute calmness. Not one thing enters his mind negatively about batting,” Finch said.

He described Smith’s ability to avoid carrying the pressure or disappointment of previous innings into subsequent matches as a rare strength that separated him from other players.

For Finch, Smith’s combination of technical adaptability, mental resilience, self-belief and dedication makes him an exceptional cricketer and the finest player he has shared a dressing room with.