Australia v Sri Lanka Test 1 Day 4: Live scores, updates from Galle
Steve Smith has been labelled a tactical “genius” after the stand-in skipper set up the wicket of Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva on a rain-affected third day of the first Test.
Steve Smith has been labelled a tactical “genius” by Australian spinner Matt Kuhnemann after the stand-in skipper helped set up the wicket of Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva on Friday.
De Silva was stumped for 22 after dancing down the wicket to left-armer Kuhnemann, who credited the champion batter for tempting his opponent into the error.
“That was down to Smudge. He made the field adjustment, he brought mid-off up and brought mid-on even further up and around. Very clear for me, his message for me is to bowl my best ball and do that consistently and then come up with a plan. That was all him, so credit to Smudge for that wicket,” Kuhnemann said.
Asked how Australia would best pry the 15 remaining wickets needed to win the first Test, Kuhnemann again deferred to Smith’s smarts.
“Smudge tactically is a genius. He’ll have under cover what he wants to do. For us bowlers it’s about bowling our best ball and then Smudge looks after the rest.”
Kuhnemann is playing his first Test in 22 months and said he was rapt to be back.
“It’s awesome. I absolutely love it. Just playing alongside these blokes, one of the best teams going around world cricket at the moment, so loving it.”
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