Steve Smith predicting minefield in Perth
Steve Smith believes scorching conditions in Perth could create a minefield for batsmen with the willow wizard predicting cracks will play a major role in the Test match.
Cricket
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Steve Smith believes a heatwave could turn the Perth Test into an old fashioned Wild West shootout, with batsmen wary of a cracked deck and swinging pink ball.
The superstar batsman admits anything could happen in WA’s day-night Test, and suddenly there is an element of the unknown lingering in the minds of players used to home conditions offering up very few surprises.
Temperatures up to 40 degrees are being forecast for the first three days of the Test and in years’ gone by, that level of oven baking would result in enormous cracks opening up by the end of the match.
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The unpredictability of the pink ball will also be heightened in mystery given only an hour of the day-night Test will actually take place in the night time.
Smith has never batted at the new Perth Stadium and says there could be some psychological barriers to overcome.
“I’m sure the first few days it will hold together pretty well, but we’ve seen here in the past, games at the WACA for instance, the cracks come into play late in the game,” said Smith.
“If it’s as hot as it says it’s going to be, they could potentially come into play, which I think is good.
“When the cracks come into play, it’s something that plays on your mind.
“You look down and you see these things. Generally the balls that get you out don’t touch the cracks, they’re just sort of playing on your mind.
“A lot of the guys have played when the wickets have been cracked and been able to play reasonably well. If it does happen, hopefully we can adjust to it.
“There is a sense of unknown, particularly with the pink ball as well. You just never know.”
During the Adelaide Test match, the pink ball was soft and ineffectual during the two day-time sessions, and only really came alive at night.
Smith is questioning what will happen in a time zone when the sun goes down at 7.30pm and play won’t go later than 8.30pm local time.
“We’re starting at one o’clock, so it doesn’t get as dark as when we finish at Adelaide. The night session is not as long,” said Smith.
“There’s a few things you have to sum up and it will just be about doing that as we go.
“We saw a pink ball game a couple of weeks ago between Pakistan and Australia A, and there were some big runs scored in that game from the Pakistan guys (and a batting collapse for Australia A).
“It will just be about summing it up on the go and adapting as quickly as we can to whatever we need to do.”
One aspect Smith isn’t fretting about is his lack of time in the middle against Pakistan.
The run-scoring freak spent days of both Tests sitting and waiting with his pads on, and – for one of the few times in his career – didn’t really trouble the scorers when he did get out there.
Virat Kohli has overtaken Smith as the No.1 batsman in the world, while Marnus Labuschagne is a chance of stealing his mantle for most Test runs in the calendar year.
But Smith isn’t feeling any extra expectation.
“I wouldn’t say, (I want to) make the next series count. I wasn’t too disappointed with the way I played,” he said.
“I wasn’t under much pressure and I was able to just relax. When I came in, we were well in control and there was no real pressure.
“I’m hitting the ball really well and I’m comfortable with where my game is at. If I’m needed, hopefully I’ll be able to score some runs.”