It’s fair enough Pakistan don’t know much about Steven Smith, but the MCG could be about to get one big surprise packet on Boxing Day.

Smith, 20, a baby-faced legspinner from NSW, could make his Test debut on Saturday if Australian offspinner Nathan Hauritz is ruled out on Saturday because of a groin injury.

Australia are hopeful Hauritz will recover in time, and captain Ricky Ponting was encouraged by his session in the nets on Friday.

But Ponting said Smith, who has played just nine first-class games and has a bowling average of 75, would be a surprise packet for the tourists if selected.

“There will be a surprise element to him if he happens to play the game … it’s exciting to have him around,” Ponting said.

“I must admit I haven’t faced a ball against him yet and there’s probably a few guys in the side who probably haven’t faced him either.

“But he’s impressed everybody with what he’s done in all forms of the game over the past few months.”

If Smith’s selection would surprise Australia, spare a thought for Pakistan, whose captain Mohammad Yousuf looked incredulous when asked what he knew about the young man.

“Who? Steven Smith? Australian?” Yousuf said.

Yousuf’s reaction was no pseudo put-down like West Indies Chris Gayle tried with Doug Bollinger before the second Test in Adelaide earlier in December, by claiming he did not who the quick was.

But Yousuf made it out he was not too concerned given the previous Australian legspinner he had faced.

“After Shane Warne, I think nobody is like him,” he said.

But Ponting said Australia had reason to be excited about Smith despite his modest numbers, as he had impressed the national team and selectors with his talents with the ball and bat.

“Warnie had a great record against Pakistan (90 wickets at 20.17 in 15 matches) … that’s the exciting thing, he’s a young legspinner who bats particulary well,” he said.

“It’s always nice to have young guys around the squad and especially young spinners as well.

“If he gets an opportunity there’ll be no fear there from him.

“He’ll be relishing the opportunity, and why wouldn’t he? The Boxing Day Test match as a 20-year-old kid would be pretty exciting.”

Smith’s addition to the squad was the second time in as many matches he has been cover for Hauritz, who was troubled by a finger injury before the third Test against the West Indies in Perth.

But Ponting said Hauritz had improved on Friday after being hampered by his groin injury after Thursday’s session.

“He feels a lot better within himself than he did yesterday and had a good solid bowl and had a lot more work on the ball, so that’s a good sign,” he said.

Smith later said he expected Hauritz to play, but had been thrilled to get a call-up late on Thursday night.

“Any time you spend in the Australian set up is a great thrill but to be around here during the festive season and before the Boxing Day Test, one of the biggest events in world cricket, has been amazing,” he said.

“When I got the phone call last night from (Cricket Australia’s) Michael Brown that they wanted me to come down as a standby player it was a huge surprise and really an early Christmas present.

“My family is very excited and if Nathan doesn’t recover in time and I do get an opportunity to play they will certainly be coming down to watch.

“I know I will be doing everything I can to grab that opportunity with both hands.”

© AAP 2012

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