Smith’s warning for Ashes: Good luck with ‘Bazball’

Steve Smith says it is all very well for England to bully other attacks in world cricket, but he remains cynical about how they will go against this Australian line-up.

Steve Smith says it is all very well for England to bully other attacks in world cricket, but he remains cynical about how they will go against this Australian line-up.

Australia had India’s attack reeling in difficult conditions at The Oval. The former Australian captain, rated by Virat Kohli as the best batter of his generation, had scored his 31st century – and seventh in England – on the second day but he found the going difficult.

Only Don Bradman (11) among visiting batsmen has scored more hundreds in England.

Smith, who has three centuries from four Tests at the ground, scored his 121 at a strike rate of 45.

These days England batters go at almost twice that pace. The home side has won 10 of its past 12 Tests at an historically high run rate of 4.76.

“I think it’d be difficult on this kind of wicket that’s up and down and seaming around,” Smith said. “It’s not easy to defend, let alone come out and swing, I said initially when Bazball started that I’m intrigued to see how it goes against our bowlers.

“I’ve said that all along. So, you know, they’ve obviously done well against other attacks but they haven’t come up against us yet.

“We’ll see it has obviously been exciting to watch, I’ve obviously enjoyed the way they’ve played and they way they have turned things around in the last 12 months or so but we’ll wait and see how it comes off against us.”

Three of England’s batsmen, Harry Brook (98.77), Jonny Bairstow (96.59) and Ben Duckett (95.48) have scored at almost a run a ball in that period.

Australia’s Travis Head, who scored 163 in the first innings of the World Test Championship is, meanwhile, motoring along at a strike rate of 82.42. Smith plays the game at his own pace and refuses to be flustered. England know he is the danger man after scoring 774 runs at an average of 110 in the 2019 Ashes and their vice-captain, Ollie Pope, says they have plans for him.

“He loves batting in England, over the years he averages over 60 here now. It’s obvious he knows these conditions and he knows his game inside out, so there’s a lot of respect for him,’’ said Pope.

“But there’s also a lot of talented bowlers in our changing room who have worked out ways we can challenge him.

“I can’t say too much but there’s probably slightly different plans this time.

“He’s got his routines – his slightly longer routines – before he faces each ball and he won’t be ready until he’s done all those routines.

“What’s made him successful is that stubbornness and that stubbornness for runs as well. That’s exactly the bubble we’ve got to try and get him out of.

“Steve Smith is a highly-skilled batter and scores a lot of runs but I think for him we might be looking at even quirkier ways to challenge him, test him out and make him as uncomfortable as we possibly can to try and get his wicket.’’