Andrew Hilditch, Jamie Cox, David Boon and Merv Hughes deserve credit for blooding him just after his 21st birthday, even though it was officially as a bowling replacement for the injured Nathan Hauritz. At that stage he had an underwhelming first-class bowling average of 48.55 but a fine batting average of 56.22, with four centuries in his first 13 matches.

A few months later the same panel, with Greg Chappell there in place of Hughes, recalled him as a batsman – the role his father and players and officials at his Sydney club considered best for him – in place of Marcus North.

"He's always been a batsman that bowled. Anyone who keeps [describing him] the other way that's through the wish to have a leg-spinner that bowled like Shane Warne again," said Steve Rixon, the former Test gloveman who was president of Smith's club, Sutherland, at the time of his debut.

The right-hander's elevation for that unsuccessful home Ashes series was accompanied by widespread derision, because they had told him they wanted him to inject some "fun" into the team. Nevertheless, those selectors felt any criticism they received from picking him as a bowler and then a batsman within six months was worth it as Smith gained more international experience.

Even though that panel axed him after the 2010-11 Ashes, the five Tests he had played by that stage provided him with enough motivation to withstand being overlooked for the next 22 Tests, which stretched more than two years.

There were two innings in those early stints that suggested Smith would be back at the top level eventually. The first was thumping 77 in Leeds in the second innings of a neutral Test where Pakistan had ripped through Australia for 88 in 34 overs on day one. The second was his team-high 54 not out to slow Australia's capitulation to England in an innings defeat at the SCG.

Where the replacement selection panel of John Inverarity, Mickey Arthur, Rod Marsh and Michael Clarke deserved credit was knowing when to recall him.

Between January 2011 and March 2013 Smith's confidence in his leg-spin plummeted to the extent he began toying with finger spin in a Sheffield Shield match. Over that period his bowling record was five wickets at an average of 124, conceding a hefty 4.5 runs per over, from diminishing opportunities. But as his bowling prowess declined his batting prowess steadily rose.

Smith's struggle to, until recently, gain widespread acceptance among the cricket-watching public has probably been influenced by his manner at the crease. Besides his compulsive fidgeting, many of his strokes are not as elegant as his peers, feeding suspicions he cannot be relied upon.

During those two-and-a-bit years out of the Test team the right-hander was solid without being exceptional, averaging 41.17. At the time of his recall to the squad he had gone 23 first-class innings without a century. Nevertheless, his skill against spin bolstered his claims to be included as a reserve batsman for the series in India, where he was a beneficiary of the homework suspension to get his chance.

Smith's inability to convert his half-centuries into centuries during his Test absence – just once in nine attempts – initially looked set to continue at the top level, with scores of 92 in India and then 53 and 89 in England. The turning point was his unbeaten 138 at The Oval in August last year. From there he has made four more centuries, and only thrice been dismissed between 50 and 100.

Even though Smith's maiden century came after the series had already been lost, most of his subsequent tons have been crucial. A year ago at the WACA Ground the home team was struggling at 5-143 against England when he shared a century partnership with Brad Haddin and then moved on to 111. In Sydney a few weeks later Australia were reeling at 5-97 when he and Haddin repeated their feat from Perth.

Arguably Smith's most important innings came in February in Centurion in South Africa, when Australia's precarious position of 4-98 was fortified by a 233-run partnership between him and Shaun Marsh. And to start this summer's home series Smith contributed 214 runs across both innings without dismissal – not long after a one-day series against South Africa he nervelessly finished with scores of 73 not out, 104 and 67 in a series victory.

Assuming the highest profile on-field leadership position in Australian sport would not be a cinch for even the most self-confident cricketer, let alone one as publicly undemonstrative as Smith. But given Smith's batting deeds since that breakthrough innings at The Oval, combined with his captaincy cameos for Sydney Sixers and then New South Wales in last season's shield final, there are grounds to expect it is more likely to be the making of the 25-year-old than a millstone for him.