Broad says England knows secret to knocking over Steve Smith

ASHES villain Stuart Broad says his team has cooked up a simple recipe to break down No. 1-ranked batsman Steve Smith.

Australia's Steve Smith bats in the nets during a practice session at Old Merchant Taylors’ School near Watford, north west of London, on June 21, 2015. The Australian Test cricket squad will play Kent on June 25 in the first of two tour matches ahead of the first Ashes Test match against England in Cardiff on July 8. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS -- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB

ENGLAND has identified a simple formula it believes can break down Australian batsman Steve Smith this Ashes series, according to Ashes villain Stuart Broad.

Smith has become the most feared batsman in the world, but the England quick says his team isn’t scared of the 26-year-old because he has technical flaws in his game that are more exposed following his promotion to No. 3 in the Australian batting order.

Speaking from England’s pre-Ashes Spanish getaway with new coach Trevor Bayliss, Broad said his team plans to exploit Smith’s apparent weakness with a swinging new ball.

It came as Australian coach Darren Lehmann laughed off Broad’s declaration Smith will be easily nullified this series.

“I thought this sledging stuff was supposed to stop,” Lehmann said.

“It’s pretty much always swung in the history of the game here in England. You’ve got to be a good player to make runs. I think Steven Smith is a good player.”

English media recently reported England players remain surprised at Smith’s dramatic rise to become the world’s best batsman — a far cry from the player that struggled to make an impact in previous Ashes campaigns and earned the nickname “Smudge”.

“I think it’s an advantage for us with him coming in at No. 3 with the Dukes ball in England,” Broad said.

Stuart Broad thinks Steve Smith will struggle this Ashes series.

“With the ball moving around in England we know how hard it is to bat in that top three. I’m certainly not doubting the quality of him as a player, he’s a wonderful player and I enjoy watching him play when I’m not bowling at him.

“But you have to have a very tight technique to bat in the top three against the Dukes ball in England and it’s up to us as an opening attack to get an early wicket and get him in early against the new ball because he’s not had amazing success in England.

“When he played in the 2013 series he got a hundred at the Oval on a flat wicket. We’ll be looking to try and test his technique with a Dukes ball early.

“I think if he comes in at No. 5 like Joe Root does for us there’s not many weaknesses there.

“He’s obviously had a fantastic 18 months since he’s changed his technique a bit. I’ve got a few ideas to run past a few players that seem to think it might be a good option. I won’t share them with you yet.”

Smith said during Australia’s tour match against Kent that he is not nervous that he has become England’s top target, despite former England spinner Graeme Swann saying he still maintains Smith has a poor technique.