Australia v India: Steve Smith rediscovers the secret which made him the world’s best batsman

Steve Smith has regularly spoken about the phenomenon of ‘losing his hands’ and then ‘finding’ them again in the never ending pursuit of his nirvana at the crease. He may have rediscovered the detail which placed him among the world’s best batsmen.

Steve Smith has secretly rediscovered the magical grip which nine years ago forged his reputation as world cricket’s greatest batsman.

Batting has always been an intricate science for the run-scoring genius, and over the years Smith has regularly spoken about the phenomenon of ‘losing his hands’ and then ‘finding’ them again in the never ending pursuit of his nirvana at the crease.

Smith might have dominated 2016, 2017 and 2019 with different variations on how he holds the bat, and he has still enjoyed moments of brilliance in recent years, but he has been unable to replicate the sweet spot feeling he had when he truly was at his peak.

Until now.

As Smith closes in on the landmark of 10,000 career runs, Smith confirmed to this masthead on Wednesday that a nearly decade long search is over.

Steve Smith looks on after batting in the nets during a training session. Picture: Getty Images

Smith has spent the build-up to this blockbuster series against India honing the long lost grip which delivered him the two biggest years of his career back in 2014 and 2015 in a potentially massive boost to an Australian side desperate to break its losing drought against India at home.

Much of the focus leading into this summer has been on Smith’s move back down to his preferred spot at No.4, but it is the completion of a nearly decade-long search for his favourite batting grip which could trigger a return to his Bradman-like best.

“In a big series, there’s no one who plays the situation of the game better over his career,” teammate and close confidant, Marnus Labuschagne said of Smith.

Marnus Labuschagne believes Steve Smith will thrive in his return to No.4. Picture: Getty Images

“I think it’s simple. He’s one of Australia’s best ever players and his most successful position is batting at 4. To have him back in a position where he’s comfortable and he’s made a lot of his Test runs is perfect for us.

“When you lose two wickets early and he’s coming in and putting pressure on the opposition, he’s been amazing. That’s what’s great about him. He can play so many different roles and that’s what makes him so valuable at 4.”

Numbers wise, Smith has still been producing world class numbers over recent years, but he has been resembling a mere mortal more than he ever has before.

Steve Smith enjoyed a remarkable 2015, which included a double hundred against England at Lord’s. Picture: Getty Images

But close observers of Smith’s game have been saying in hushed tones in the lead-up to this first Test that his game is back, and it promises to be a thrilling ride this summer to see if that can be reflected on the scoreboard with a return to his eye-popping feats of the past.

Smith blasted four centuries in four Tests against India in the 2014-15 home summer, where he smashed a staggering 769 runs at an average of 128.

In the calendar year of 2014 with his favourite grip, Smith plundered 1146 runs at 81.85 and in 2015 he bettered that again with his career-high 1474 runs at 73.7.

But in the nine years since that staggering high point, Smith says that grip has evaded him.

For it to return on the eve of a summer where so much history is at Smith’s fingertips is exciting.

Smith needs 315 runs to become the fourth Australian to reach the rare 10,000 run promised land, the others being Ricky Ponting (13,378), Allan Border (11,174) and Steve Waugh (10,927).

Not only that, but Smith could become the third fastest man to that mark and the second fastest after Ponting.

If Smith can amass 513 runs this summer he will also take over Ponting as the highest ever Australian run-scorer against India and if he can post two centuries he would usurp England’s Joe Root for most ever hundreds against the sub-continental kings.

The fact that the rediscovery of his favourite grip is coinciding with a return to No.4 has teammates and ex-greats excited.

“I think that will be a blanket of comfort right across the batting line-up. Just psychologically let alone how it plays out in real time,” Fox Cricket expert Adam Gilchrist said.

Nathan Lyon said Smith is a marvel.

“Having Smithy at 4, I think that’s probably his best position if I’m being honest. But Smithy is the best problem solver I’ve ever played with. And he’s arguably the greatest batter of this era in my opinion, so I think he deserves the right and he can bat where he wants as far as I’m concerned,” Lyon said.

Originally published as Australia v India: Steve Smith rediscovers the secret which made him the world’s best batsman