Smith's steps on the pathway to greatness

International debut at 20

Boasting a first-class batting average above 50, Smith was thrown into international cricket at the end of the 2009-10 season, playing a T20 against Pakistan and an ODI against West Indies.

The selectors' enthusiasm surrounding Smith's leg-spin bowling led to him batting at eight in those matches, taking 2-78 against the Windies and 2-34 from four overs against Pakistan.

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He finished the domestic summer strongly, scoring two centuries and taking career-best bowling figures of 7-64 for NSW to force his way into Australia's Test squad for the tour of New Zealand, although he didn't play a match in that series.

Test debut at Lord's

Smith was handed Baggy Green cap No.415 at Lord's against Pakistan in July 2010, picked as Australia's leading spinner and batting at No.8.

His selection came despite the admission of captain Ricky Ponting that the 20-year-old "had a bit of work to do" on his bowling, while Shane Warne said the leggie was "nowhere near the finished product" and had wanted the youngster to be given more time to develop in Sheffield Shield cricket before being thrown into the Test arena.

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Smith picked up 3-51 in the second innings of his debut match, but was outdone by the part-time off-spin of Marcus North, who took 6-55 as Australia won by 150 runs.

Smith bowled just 10 wicketless overs in the second Test but showed his ability with the bat, smashing 77 from 100 balls as Australia lost the match by three wickets.

2010-11 Ashes

Smith was left out of Australia's side for the first two Tests of the 2010-11 Ashes series before he was called up for the third Test to bat at No.6 in place of North.

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Smith was one of several Australian batsmen to struggle in the final three Tests of a forgettable series, averaging 31.80 as he finished with an unbeaten 54 at the SCG.

His leg-spin proved to be ineffective, bowling 31 wicketless overs in three Tests as England claimed a victory 2-1.

Back to the Sheffield Shield

The end of the Ashes series signalled the beginning of a two-year absence from Australia's Test side for Smith, who abandoned his bowling in a bid to focus on his work with the bat.

The change of approach produced mixed results; he scored a total of 788 runs over the 11-12 and 12-13 Shield seasons – including one century and six half-centuries – and took just five wickets in the same period.

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His bowling workload dropped off dramatically in the 2012-13 season – he bowled just 15 overs for the summer – and his proficiency with the bat against spin earned him a surprise recall to Australia's Test squad for the 2013 tour of India.

Test return in Mohali

Smith came within eight runs of his maiden Test century when he returned to Australia's XI for the third Test in Mohali, stumped for 92 in the first innings as the Aussies lost the match by six wickets.

He posted 46 in the fourth Test as Australia lost again by six wickets, capping a disappointing tour that ended in a 4-0 series defeat.

He was left out of the initial squad for the 2013 Ashes tour, but forced his way in with an innings of 133 for Australia A against Ireland under the eye of soon-to-be Australia coach Darren Lehmann.

Ashes call-up

Having earned a late call-up to the squad, Smith was a surprise inclusion in the XI for the first Test at Trent Bridge, where he was selected to bat at No.5.

He give a glimpse of his development as a batsman with a fighting half-century late on day one, surviving a tricky final session until stumps having come to the crease at 3-22.

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Having failed in both innings at Lord's, Smith again fell just short of his first Test century, top-edging a sweep off the bowling of Graeme Swann at Old Trafford to fall for 89.

But he didn't have to wait long for that maiden ton, posting an unbeaten 138 in the fifth Test at The Oval, bringing up his century with a six down the ground off Jonathan Trott.

Home Ashes and tour of South Africa

Smith passed 50 just twice in nine innings during the 2013-14 Ashes campaign, but those two instances were fighting centuries that further underlined his rapid development.

On both occasions, Smith came to the wicket with Australia in trouble and on both occasions, be teamed with Brad Haddin to lift the home side to a total that was too much for the touring England side.

Smith followed that series with an innings that he rates one of his best at Test level, an even 100 against South Africa in Centurion that came after Australia had been 4-98 just after lunch.

ODI breakthrough

Smith was recalled to Australia's one-day team in the tri-series with Zimbabwe and South Africa in August – after Michael Clarke was ruled out with a recurrence of a hamstring injury. He seemed to have cemented his place in the side with a brilliant century against Pakistan in Sharjah in October, his first in ODIs.

He was a surprise omission from the opening match of the Carlton Mid ODI Series against South Africa in Perth, but was recalled for the second match – after Clarke was ruled out with another hamstring complaint. Scores of 73*, 104 and 67 helped Australia to a series win and lock him in for the World Cup squad.

Test superstar status

Two half-centuries on the October tour of the UAE against Pakistan put Smith's name in lights on an otherwise disappointing tour for the Australians.

His reputation as one of Australia's most in-form talents was confirmed in the first Test of the home summer where he was unbeaten across two innings, a first-innings career-high 162* followed with 52*.