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Steve Smith can become a potent Test spinner

12th April, 2014
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Australia's latest Test captain shouldn't be afraid to roll his arm over from time to time. (AFP Photo / Ian Kington)
Expert
12th April, 2014
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Now that Steve Smith has graduated into a consistent Test batsman, he has the opportunity to develop his dangerous leg breaks.

The New South Welshmen made the right choice several years ago by making his bowling a distant second priority in order to exploit his generous talent with the blade.

The Australian selectors had mistakenly tried to fashion Smith into a bowling all-rounder at the tender age of 21 in the 2010-11 Ashes.

Even specialist leg spinners are very rarely ready for the highest level at that age, let alone all-rounders.

It was no great surprise when Smith floundered against England’s accomplished batting line-up, returning 0-138 from just 31 overs in the series.

At that stage Smith’s batting, too, was raw and not yet ready to withstand the rigours of Test cricket.

His return of 159 runs at 32 that series was not too poor but his unorthodox style needed to be honed.

Smith went back to Shield ranks and tightened his game. He took on positions of responsibility at NSW and batted accordingly.

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When he returned to the Test side one year ago in India he was a refined version of his younger self.

His 15 matches since have seen him reap 1102 runs at 44, including four tons.

Those figures are even more impressive when you consider 10 of those matches were played away from home against highly-ranked opponents South Africa, India and England.

Smith’s maturation as a cricketer has seen him become a man for a crisis.

Of his ten scores of 45 or more since coming back into the Test side, all of them have come in the first innings.

Among those ten scores, seven have been compiled after he arrived at the crease with Australia in strife.

Over the past year, Smith’s leggies have been used sparingly by skipper Michael Clarke. But he has proved himself a potent change bowler.

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Setting aside that ill-fated Ashes series in 2010-11, he has since snared 11 wickets at 35 in Tests.

Those breakthroughs have come at a strike rate of 58, which underlines what a threat he poses with the ball.

His strike rate compares favourably with the likes of India’s Ravi Ashwin (59), Pakistan wizard Saeed Ajmal (63), Sri Lankan mainstay Rangana Herath (64) and his teammate Nathan Lyon (65).

What holds back Smith is his lack of control. He is an expensive option, having leaked 3.84 runs per over across his Test career due to the buffet of full tosses and long hops he typically serves.

But at least once or twice an over he sends down a drifting, dipping delivery which jags off the surface in a manner which is disconcerting for batsmen.

He has the rare ability to bamboozle even the elite Test strokemakers.

This was patently clear in the final innings of the recent series against South Africa.

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Smith was once capable of bowling with decent control.

He proved this early in his one-day international career when Clarke regularly threw him the ball.

In his first 23 matches he secured 21 wickets at 31, solid figures for any short form spinner.

While he looks a long way from the bowler he was at that stage, he hasn’t lost his ability to conjure wicket-taking balls.

It seems likely that now he has his batting in such top shape Smith will put more effort into his bowling.

At just 24 years old he has many years to develop his skills.

He has the ability and temperament to develop into a potent fifth bowling option for Australia at Test level.

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