Steve Smith had hit 14 sixes throughout his KFC BBL career prior to seven days ago.
With 18 sixes in three games, he now has more than double that amount, tying him with Tim David and Matt Short, who have played 12 and 13 games, respectively, for the most sixes in the competition.
It's been a noticeable shift for Australia's statistically best Test batter since Don Bradman, who used two brutal outbursts of power hitting to enrage sold-out crowds in Coffs Harbour and at the SCG.
Smith revealed that basic physics has been the driving force behind his consistent ability to clear the rope since rejoining the Sydney Sixers after scoring his second century in as many innings on Saturday night, suggesting that he may have finally found his place in the T20 format.
Following an incredible 125 not out from 66 balls in last night's crushing Sydney Smash victory, he explained, "I've just brought my hand around a little bit so I'm a bit more open (with my grip) and I'm a bit more side on (in my stance).".
It merely widens my bat face a little.
"If you look at some of my footage from the past year (back) to four or five years, I was probably quite closed with my (bat) face during that time, which probably prevented me from hitting the ball as hard.”
"I was probably top spinning it instead of back spinning it and letting the ball go further up and away.
Smith claims he changed his grip across all formats six months ago, which resulted in the iconic "I'm back baby" grab captured on TV during his 80 from 78 balls against England in the first ODI last November.
He said at the time that it was "the best I've felt in about six years" and that it was "as close to perfection" as he could make it. No doubt, he feels better now after a 486-run Test summer and 262 runs struck at 175 in three Big Bash matches.
The 33-year-old claims that the change in technique also makes it easier for him to slice the ball into gaps, which opens up scoring opportunities all over the field.
According to Smith, "so far, it's working well.".
"I think I'm in a good position at the top of the list. I haven't played it very often, but when I have (in the past) in the IPL, I've done reasonably well.”
The Big Bash saw one of its best knocks ever as Smith led the Sixers to a 125-run thrashing of crosstown rivals the Thunder in front of a sold-out crowd of 38,757 at the SCG, the second largest BBL crowd ever at the venue.
Even more impressive was Smith's ability to complete his unbeaten hundred while playing with a "cactus" back, which he revealed after the game that he had twinged in the nets earlier in the day.
He claims, "I did nothing but extensions on the table for the majority of the pre-game.".
"I was fortunate that I didn't have to run too much tonight; it came off the middle of the bat pretty consistently, so it was it was a good night, I really enjoyed it.”
"It's hard for me to stand up, but I can bend down just fine. However, it probably aided my batting and allowed me to keep my shots a little lower for a little while longer on that wicket."
Smith was confident he would be fit and ready for Australia's Four-Test Qantas tour of India starting next month, just as Nathan Lyon, the Sixers' champion off-spinner, would be after sitting out his second straight game due to lateral meniscus irritation as doctors take a cautious approach before the Border-Gavaskar series.
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