It’s only natural that a young leg-spinner like Steven Smith would watch Shane Warne on television for years and emerge as a bowler with a similar action.

The former Test world record-holder Warne has given the NSW leggie a few tips and they appear to be paying off, with the 20-year-old taking 3-115 from 29.1 overs in difficult conditions on day one of the Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.

Western Australia reached 5-371 at stumps with Luke Ronchi (79 not out) and Theo Doropoulos (47 not out) in punishing form on an unresponsive pitch.

But Smith, with white zinc on his freckled cheeks and wearing a slightly flushed look after a long hot day on the field in temperatures in the high 30s, is up for the challenge.

From the way he adjusts his shirt at the top of his mark, to the flick of the ball from one hand to the other, to the purposeful run-up to the crease, Smith has the look of a Warne clone.

Whether he can be half as good as the cricketing superstar is anyone’s guess, but the early signs are okay.

He claimed the key wicket of Robinson, hitting leg stump when the left-hander stepped too far across when attempting to sweep.

“A few of the quicks (Mitchell Starc has side strain) are in a bit of trouble so I might have a bit more bowling to do in the morning. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Smith said on Tuesday.

“The wicket’s not offering too much on day one. Hopefully it offers a little bit more in the morning and I can get a bit of turn.

“I’ve watched Shane Warne. He has been the king of spin for a long time.

“I’ve had a few tips off him and they’ve worked quite well.

“I’m not trying to do anything (Warne-like with mannerisms). It’s just what I’ve done for a while. I can’t really help that I guess.”

And like Warne, Smith took a passing interest in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.

“I had a bit of interest. I had Roman Emperor in the sweep,” Smith said.

“But I was concentrating on what was going on out there.

“The umpires asked at the beginning of the day if we could have a second drinks break and come and watch it and both captains agreed not to do it, because they’re taking the cricket pretty seriously.”

© AAP 2012

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