Australia v Pakistan: Steve Smith’s back and across technique earns more Sir Don Bradman comparisons

Steve Smith remembers his early days when he was very much a front foot player. Now he has become ‘more back foot dominant’ and the similarities to Sir Donald Bradman are just uncanny.

Steve Smith is seen during the Australian Men's cricket team training in Brisbane, Monday, November 18, 2019. (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING

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Steve Smith is not Don Bradman but the longer he plays, the more he is starting to look like him.

Smith admits after playing forward for much of his career he is now more of a back foot man.

Bradman famously liked to move back and across at the point of delivery and Smith is now more back than front foot.

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Justin Langer says the key to Steve Smith’s technique is his ability to relax.

Former Test batsman Dean Jones is a keen student of technique and has noted the similarity between the two champions.

“It’s amazing how similar Steve Smith and Don Bradman’s techniques are,’’ Jones said on Twitter recently.

“Both played back. Both had split grips. Both had two eyed stance at the ball release. Both unique. But we don’t coach these traits.’’

Smith remembers his early days playing under Justin Langer, when Langer was the Australian batting coach and he was very much a front foot player, who would even play traditional backfoot shots like the pull off the front foot.

“Now I am very much back foot dominant,’’ Smith said this week.

“I still get my weight through the ball but I don’t have the same sort, I guess, movement with my front foot down the wicket as far.’’

Smith’s greatness has confused junior coaches around Australia, who are mulling over what is really the truth when it comes to a workable technique.

Is the textbook they studied still the game’s gospel?

Sir Donald Bradman had a very unique technique as well.

Smith did not read a coaching manual until his early 20s when he sat for a coaching certificate.

Many batsmen, particularly the white ball warriors, like to play forward these days, a contrast to the likes of Bradman, Ian Chappell and Steve Waugh, who liked to move back.

Langer used to have a poster of the top 10 runscorers in Test cricket on his wall and they all had their bat down at the crease as the bowler was about to deliver. That has all changed now with all sorts of different stances.

“Techniques are a bit more rigid in terms of movement,’’ Langer said.

“One of the beautiful things about Steve Smith is that I have always said you must be relaxed at the crease.

“It’s really hard with the mental pressure. But the great boxers and tennis players are loose and their arms like a hose in the swimming pool. Steve is relaxed.

“In white ball cricket they can stand still and smack it, but batters have to be better at it. All the great players moved their feet well.’’

Originally published as Australia v Pakistan: Steve Smith’s back and across technique earns more Sir Don Bradman comparisons