Steve Smith’s stunning rise can be seen in three Ashes Tests in Perth, writes Robert Craddock

IF YOU want to know the story of Steve Smith’s stunning Test career simply pick apart three Ashes Tests in Perth and there it is in all its rich, contrasting glory, writes Robert Craddock.

Steve Smith celebrates his century against England.

IF you want to know the story of Steve Smith’s stunning Test career simply pick apart three Ashes Tests in Perth and there it is in all its rich, contrasting glory.

ACT 1 (December, 2010): An insecure kid plays his third Test with a batting average of 21 and is sledged by his England rivals for being a lightweight in every way.

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ACT 2 (December, 2013): Peppered by short-pitched bowling and still very much on trial as a Test player Smith changes his technique mid-innings, scored his first Test ton on home soil and roars off into a stratosphere occupied by the gods of the game.

ACT 3 (Friday): Smith comes to the wicket with the Ashes on the line and simply bullies England back into a corner and cements his reputation as Australia’s best batsman since Bradman.

Steve Smith debuted as a spinner in 2010.

Steve Smith after scoring his 22nd Test century in 2017.

But first, 2010. If you asked any England player in that match whether they were watching a future superstar they would have laughed at you.

The English noted that Smith had given a press conference saying “I’ve been told I have to come into the side and be fun, whether that be telling a joke or something like that.’’

As he walked to the wicket, English fieldsmen asked “got a joke for us, mate’’ and quite frankly, they felt he was a bit of a one himself. He did not last long, making a first innings seven before being caught by Andrew Strauss.

In the 140-year history of Test cricket, of the 44 players who have made 20 or more centuries, Steve Smith’s ratio of one every 2.7 Tests is bettered by only one man ... Don Bradman at 1.8 #Ashes

— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) December 16, 2017

Fewest innings to 22 Test tons:
58 D Bradman
101 S Gavaskar
108 STEVE SMITH*
114 S Tendulkar
121 Mohd Yousuf
127 W Hammond#Ashes

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) December 16, 2017

On this day four years ago, Steve Smith notched his first Test century in Australia (v England at WACA).

Has scored 2371 at a handy average of 81.8 on home soil since then#Ashes

— Chris Robinson (@CJKRobinson) December 13, 2017

But four years ago in Perth it was a different story.

Smith was under fire after lunch from the English attack and decided to introduce a Don Bradman-like back and across movement which would give him more time to either play the pull shot or get out of the road of it.

It is the trigger movement that has changed his career.

Steve Smith celebrates his first century on Australian soil in 2013.

He forged his first home Test century that and in the four years since has made another 20. If you put blazing trumpets in a story they belong before that sentence.

Twenty Test centuries in 48 Tests spanning four years. Ridiculous. Smith now has more Test centuries all up (22) as he has half centuries. Ridiculous.

He is defying gravity, normality, history … all this from a player who refused to reach a coaching manual until he studied for his level one coaching certificate.

Junior coaches are now asking themselves what can their youngsters learn from the Smith story.

Here’s five things to chew over …

1. If you have the choice before having the perfect technique and facing a truckload of balls do the latter. This was the single biggest ingredient in his success.

Steve Smith unleashes on Day 3 of the third Ashes Test.

2. Smith believes children should play as many sports for as long as they can. He claims tennis gave him his fast feet.

3. No matter how quirky your technique, or how much you want to fidget, keep your head still when the bowler releases the ball.

4. Smith loves Bradman’s saying “if you keep the ball on the ground you can’t get out.’’ Have you noticed how he rarely goes over the top?

5. Be adaptable. There’s not one Steve Smith. There’s about four of them. Shots come and go depending in the conditions.

He is a chameleon of the crease and a champion to boot.

Originally published as Steve Smith’s stunning rise can be seen in three Ashes Tests in Perth, writes Robert Craddock