The Ashes 2015: Is Graeme Swann’s criticism of Steve Smith due to Australian’s role in his downfall?

STEVE Smith was behind the game plan that forced Graeme Swann into premature retirement — does that explain his criticism of the world’s No. 1 batsman?

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

WAS he just trying to get square?

Graeme Swann’s chastening criticism of Steve Smith’s technique is interesting when viewed through the prism of what happened before it. Smith was one of the key agitators in the game plan which elbowed Swann into premature retirement in Australia last year.

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It all started with a ball Swann bowled to Smith early in his breakthrough Test innings of 138 not out against England at The Oval in 2013. At the time Swann had the Australians neatly tied down with just nine runs off his first five overs before Smith snapped the chains, advanced and belted him over mid-off for six.

Steve Smith approaches this Ashes series in the form of his life.

The batsman was surprised when Swann immediately dropped back a fieldsman and it left him and Australia convinced that if you gang-tackled Swann early he would retreat and his threat would wane.

So it proved a few months later in Australia when Swann was heavily challenged by Australia and retired mid-tour after taking only seven wickets at 80.

Swann reckons Smith has not got a great technique, lacks the “can’t get me out’’ qualities of Steve Waugh or fear-striking bravado of a Gilchrist or Hayden. He has also questioned whether Smith will score runs against the swinging ball batting at No. 3 in England.

Graeme Swann did not have a happy time on his last trip to Australia.

The last sentence is the most relevant. Smith has been seeing the ball like a hot-air balloon for the past two years and has carved a path of destruction from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

But English spearhead Anderson has dismissed Smith five times, more than any other Test bowler, and excels with the Dukes ball in England.

Batting up the order at No. 3 in England against crafty swing master Anderson will be one of the toughest assignments of Smith’s career. If Smith can wear down Anderson, Australia should win the series. Anderson has long been the benchmark and the heartbeat of England’s success, as showcased by the stark statistics that he averages 22.65 per Test wicket when England wins and 42.67 when they lose.

Test great Greg Chappell, the first big voice to push Smith when he was a Test selector, feels confident Smith’s home-made, once very leg-side orientated but now all around the wicket technique, can answer the Ashes challenge.

“Everyone gets challenged early in England and there will be times when he does fall early but if he gets a start, good luck,’’ Chappell said. “He can make 150 or 200 once he’s in.

“I am not too worried about his technique. It is not what it looks like it is what decisions you make at the right time that count and that is something that Steve has become very good at.’’

Originally published as The Ashes 2015: Is Graeme Swann’s criticism of Steve Smith due to Australian’s role in his downfall?