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As Steven Smith fronted up to the Indian media on the eve of the 3rd Test in Mohali earlier this year, he got the most unexpected question first up.
“Steven, In your last Test match here it was your overthrow that cost Australia a Test match so you don’t have great memories here?”
A question of such nature would have disheartened most cricketers, especially a cricketer who was only presented an opportunity to play because of a fall out between the coach and its senior cricketers.
But Smith started his response in a similar manner he started his innings on Day 1 against England. Smith laughed then went on to say “I thought I may get that question first up”.
Similarly, he would have seen his captain get knocked over to a late swinging outswinger and we all probably expected a similar follow-up. Once again, Smith, like that press conference in Mohali, was up to the mark. Anderson bowled a booming inswinger to which Smith stretched forward and felt the duke ball hit right in the middle of his bat.
Smith’s technique has been scrutinised in the past. He had the tendency to play away from his body, making him vulnerable to an outswing bowler like Anderson. This time, he covered his off-stump and allowed the ball to pass when Anderson or Finn bowled the outswingers.
His stride wasn’t too long, so he could deflect the ball into the onside. Even when he received a full ball angling in, he didn’t look to play it though midwicket, even though the shot was a safe one. Instead, he played straight and let the ball hit him on the outside of the pad.
Smith had definitely missed a couple of scoring opportunities with this extremely secure method but it ensured him that he covered the line of yet another Anderson lethal outswinger for a long time. To summarise, he banked on his defence before thinking of attacking, a method some of his top order could well learn from.
Finn become restless and dug one in short, a ball that Smith had an answer to as well. He went back and pulled it to the boundary.
It is not the first time Smith had faced such a potent attack nor is it the first time he has played under the grey skies. In only his second Test, he made a stubborn 77 against the Pakistan pace trio of Asif, Aamir and Gul. That innings too was on a green top at Headingley and in a pressure situation.
From that Test in Headingley to dust bowls of India, Smith had exposure to plenty of alien conditions. All the signs he displayed on Day 1 were positive and a sign of his batting developing.
The move to bat at number three for New South Wales this season presented him with a chance to face the new hard ball, and is paying off. Facing the new ball has tightened his technique and improved his temperament. Steven Smith has learned the art of facing a hard new swinging ball. Suddenly, England had to fall to plan B and try spin.
Once again, Smith proved the skills he had developed in the middle, batting on the turning tracks in India would not be wasted. He went down the track to the second ball delivered by the off-spinner Swann and lofted him over long-on for six.
Few balls later, he advanced again and flicked him wide of mid-wicket for some more runs. Smith was in his comfort zone, he had faced countless deliveries on more conducive wickets in India and proved to himself that he was capable.
On a day the sun didn’t shine, the ball swung, and the pressure was overwhelming, Smith came through with flying colours. In the coming days, the sun is expected to shine, the pressure likely to ease with each run.
The coming days could well be when Smith gets a shot at redeeming that overthrow that cost his country a Test match. If he can do it on a day when the stakes will be higher, the overthrow could be a distant memory.
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