Steve Smith has dared the lethal Indian pace attack to bring on the short stuff in the upcoming marquee Test series, saying he has faced a lot of it so far in his career.
According to the former Australia captain, trying short-pitched bowling against him could actually work in his team’s favour. “If teams are trying to get me out like that, it’s probably a big benefit for my team because it takes a lot out of people’s bodies if you continually bowl short,” Smith told News Corp.
“I’ve faced a lot of short-pitched bowling in my life and I haven’t had too many stresses with it. I suppose we’ll just wait and see.”
In Australia’s most recent Test series, at home versus New Zealand in the 2019-20 season, Smith was dismissed four times by left-arm quick Neil Wagner. The pacer kept attacking Smith with the short stuff aimed at his body.
Smith, unable to hit a century in that series, still managed to average 42.80 in the three matches and wore the bowlers down with his dogged approach in the middle, as Australia scored in excess of 400 in each of their first innings.
Smith’s strike rate in that series was 34.13 — the lowest of his career — but he is more than happy to play a role for his team.
“It's no dramas for me. I just play the game and sum up the conditions, how they’re trying to get me out and being able to counter that,” Smith said.
He acknowledged that Wagner executed the short ball well, but others may not be able to replicate that.
“I mean, a few different oppositions have tried it and they’ve certainly found it more difficult to execute it the way Wagner did. He’s got an amazing skill set where his speeds go up and down. Everything is between your ribs and your head.”
The much-anticipated Test series begins with the Day-Night Test in Adelaide from December 17. The Indian attack will comprise Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami in lead roles, while the visitors will also call on Ishant Sharma if he recovers from the injury sustained during the IPL.
Last time when India toured Australia, in the 2018-19 season, and beat them 2-1 in the Test series, the Aussie quicks failed to deliver in the third and fourth Tests. However, head coach Justin Langer believes the fast bowling group is sharper now.
