ANALYSIS: Steve Smith looked decidedly human against New Zealand, and the Black Caps deserve the credit
Plans. So you've got plans. Have all the plans you like. For an England cricketer, the idea of a bowling plan to Steve Smith would elicit nothing more than a weary smile. They had plenty of plans for Smith. 774 runs later he had batted them out of the Ashes.Unless their plan was to deny Smith a bat by keeping David Warner at the crease insteadIndeed, that approach looked to have worked in the first two Tests of this season.
Declaration hitting has never been Smith's strongest suit. Nor has hitting out with the tail. There have been few better batsmen than Smith, but it's a different skill to go up through the gears as a Test innings unfolds, using the base of a big score for one final stratospheric launch. When Smith switches modes he can start to look vulnerable, and his forays often don't last. Think losing his stumps to a ramp shot against India for 192, or losing off stump to a huge swipe after this year's Edgbaston hundred, or twice reverse-sweeping catches off Joe Root after passing 200.
Whatever his T20 skills, this kind of boundary clattering in Tests is not his game. Smith's kink is ascetic denial. He's there to bake the cake by milling each grain of wheat to flour by hand. He's not there to apply the icing. So it was no surprise that a man for whom every Ashes contribution began in a state of crisis was nonplussed when walking in against Pakistan with no job to do except have some fun. Imagine John the Baptist down the beach being handed a bubblegum ice cream.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Court hears what solider Ben Roberts-Smith did during 2012 Hekmatullah missionThe Federal Court hears that on the day decorated Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith is accused of ordering the killing of an unarmed Afghani civilian, he killed a Taliban soldier armed with an AK-47 and detonators.
Read more »
Labuschagne stars in engrossing start to Trans-Tasman seriesMarnus Labuschagne left Steve Smith in his wake with his third consecutive century as New Zealand breathed life into the summer.
Read more »
First volcano victims arrive in Australia for treatment as toll climbsThe first victims of the White Island volcano eruption have arrived for treatment in Melbourne and Sydney. The disaster is putting enormous pressure on burns units across New Zealand and Australia
Read more »
The silent extinction happening in Australia's watersIt's not looking good for threatened sharks and rays in Australia, a new report has found.
Read more »
Australia urged to learn from New Zealand volcano tragedyVolcano experts say Australia needs to be better prepared for a potential volcanic eruption.
Read more »
New Zealand announces mission to bring bodies back from White IslandNew Zealand authorities say they will try to recover the bodies of volcano victims from White Island on Friday.
Read more »