Steve Smith has declared he’s a better batsman now than four years ago when he went on a Bradman-like Ashes run and is ready for anything “funky” the England bowlers send his way.
The Aussie batter star sent a scare through the Aussie camp on the eve of the opening Test in Birmingham when he took a blow to the finger while batting in the nets that needed treatment and left him in some pain.
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It came after he expressed his enthusiasm for the series that he hits on the back of adding yet another century in England to his resume after 121 in the World Test Championship final against India at The Oval. Smith once again looms as the key wicket for the home team when the first Ashes Test starts at Edgbaston on Friday.
In 2019, Smith put the English bowlers to the sword with a century in each innings in the first Test at Birmingham and went on to score 774 runs at an average of 110.57 in the series, his first following his one-year ball-tampering ban.
As the England attack tried a variety of ways to get him out, Smith’s very last innings of the series was the only occasion he didn’t reach at least 80.
Veteran English quick James Anderson said they wouldn’t over plan for Smith this time, but captain Ben Stokes suggested he’ll go through his full range of tricks against him.
Smith said he felt ready for anything.
“Think we’ve seen the last few months that they do some funky things and they are going to have to try some different things at certain times,” Smith said.
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“One of my big strengths is being able to adapt on the go and understand what they are trying to do and sort of solve the problem out in the middle. I’ll just focus on my game and try and counter each thing they come at me with, but we are expecting some different stuff, that’s for sure.
“I won’t really change too much, it’s about understanding situations, knowing when I can press a bit more and put a bit more pressure on and knowing when I need to absorb pressure and rein it back in a bit. It’s something I’ve done for 10 years and I don’t see any need to change it.”
– via NCA Newswire
‘NOT BOTHERED’: POM’S COCKY CALL TO AUSSIE QUICKS
England batsman Harry Brook is full of swagger ahead of his first Ashes series and boldly declared the quicker the Aussies bowl, “it tends to go to the boundary quicker.”
Brook, who averages a remarkable 81.80 in Test cricket, is unfazed about facing the newly crowned Test world champions and their much-vaunted bowling attack.
“They’re one of the best teams in the world, coming off the back of a World Test Championship win,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to facing those boys, challenging myself against them and whatever plans they have against me.”
Brook added: “If they bowl quicker it tends to go to the boundary quicker. I’m just looking to play the ball and I’m not really bothered who’s bowling at me.
“Obviously, they’re good but it’s just another cricket ball coming at me.”
Brook’s success at the top level is not based solely on weight of runs, but speed of scoring. He boasts a Test strike rate of 99.03 — a fraction shy of a run a ball — and shone against spin during England’s tour of Pakistan.
Australia have often prioritised attacking English spinners over the years and are likely to do so again with Moeen Ali, with Brook promising Nathan Lyon more of the same.
Asked how he intended to approach a player with 487 wickets to his name, Brook’s response was typically blunt.
“What do you think? If he bowls a good ball then I’m going to respect it. Other than that, I’m going to try and take him on,” he said.
HOW SAD HAZLEWOOD REALITY COULD PLAY INTO AUSSIES’ HANDS
Josh Hazlewood has declared himself fully fit for the first Ashes Test, but is fully aware of the need to rotate Australia’s bowling attack throughout the series.
Hazlewood is locked in a fierce battle for the fourth spot in the Australian bowling line-up with Scott Boland, with neither man a guarantee to play in the first Test.
Boland is coming off a stunning performance in the World Test Championship final where he took five wickets across two innings against India.
However, the 34-year-old has never been picked ahead of Hazlewood when both are fully fit.
Hazlewood missed the WTC with an injury and has played only four Tests since January 2021, but has been a constant and reliable presence in the Australian attack.
In an ideal world Hazlewood would love to play in all five Tests, although he conceded the chance to rotate the bowlers and keep them fresh could be a major advantage for the Aussies.
“I think three would be nice pass and four is probably a tick,” Hazlewood told CODE Sports.
“Any more than that is great. Any less than I am probably a little disappointed again.
“But I think when you do have that depth for each game you really go as hard as you can and then reassess after the game. Because you always have someone of high quality sitting on the pine and ready to go next game.
“So it’s a great position to be in for the team.”
Boland prepared to miss out on Ashes | 01:06
SMITH ALL SMILES AS AUSSIE TRIO ‘TOP OF THE TREE’ IN TEST BATTING RANKINGS
Australia will head into the Ashes series with their batters occupying the top three spots in the men’s Test rankings.
In the latest weekly update from the International Cricket Council published on Wednesday, Marnus Labuschagne retains top spot with teammates Steve Smith and Travis Head just below him.
The last time batsmen from the same side occupied the top three places was in 1984, when West Indies players Gordon Greenidge, Clive Lloyd and Larry Gomes filled the slots.
Smith was all smiles when asked to speak about the incredible accomplishment.
“I think it’s cool to see us all at the top of the tree,” Smith told reporters in England.
“I think those two in particular, the improvements they’ve made over the last four or five years have been exceptional.
“We all do it completely differently, obviously Trav comes out and plays very aggressively and takes the game on. It’s sort of a ‘see ball, hit ball’ mentality.
“Marnus and I probably think our way through situations a little bit differently, but it is cool to see the hard work of those guys pay off and for them to get themselves up there in the rankings.”