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Following a fighting 141 not out on Day 3 of the first Ashes Test, Ricky Ponting endorsed Steven Smith to become Australia’s best ever batsman.
His record of most hundreds by an Australian player isn’t safe anymore going by Smith’s display in Test arena in last four years.
More Ashes
» Match report: Australia go 1-0
» Five talking points from the match
» The Liebke ratings
» Steve Smith, batting genius
» Relive Day 5 with our live blog
Smith posted his 21st Test century and took his team to a winning position at the end of the first innings. The magnitude of his innings was obvious when he reached his Test hundred and made an emotional gesture towards players viewing area while punching the Australian coat of arms on his Test shirt, uttering, “Come on” to his teammates.
If that doesn’t galvanise and motivate the team, nothing will.
With Hazlewood’s twin strike in a brutal last hour of play Australia have their noses slightly in front, and with his counterpart Joe Root at the crease, England are by no means out of this game.
Coming to the main point, a look at Steven Smith numbers after today’s game makes for jaw-dropping reading. After 57 matches he averages a staggering 61.23 with 21 centuries. He hasn’t looked back since his first ton four years ago at Oval, and only two players – Donald Bradman and Adam Voges – now have a better average than him, though Smith has played more matches than both of them.
(Image: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Smith averages over 60, and cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar (53-plus), Brian Lara (52-plus), Ricky Ponting (51-plus) and Sir Viv Richards (50-plus) are far behind him.
Of his contemporaries, Joe Root averages 53 across 61 matches, Kane Williamson averages 51.16 after 61 matches and Virat Kohli averages 50.69 in 62 matches. As far as Test cricket goes Smith is clearly miles ahead of them.
So while Virat Kohli was found wanting in England, where he struggled against the swing of James Anderson and averaged a meagre 13.40, Kane Williamson has been found wanting in India against spinners. Joe Root is yet to pass the litmus test of captaincy.
On the other hand Steven Smith averages at a stunning 70-plus as captain, including centuries in England, New Zealand, India, the West Indies and Sri Lanka. Even when Tests haven’t gone his team’s way he has always stood like a rock while his partners have crumbled at the crease.
On home soil his average gets even better, climbing to 80, and as captain Steve Smith has averaged above 100 at home.
(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
He doesn’t have a copybook technique like Kane Williamson, but his movements at the crease to cover the stump before the ball is bowled makes him a strong leg-side player and a strong LBW candidate as well. But his strong hand-eye coordination and fast hand movements while watching the ball like a hawk makes up for it.
His technique sometimes frustrates bowlers, who are forced to change their line and length. Bowlers usually bowl on the fourth stump and try to deliver the ball to the good length area. Steve, by shuffling, creates a doubt in the minds of bowlers, who are forced to bowl according to him.
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When Smith began his career in 2008-09 he was primarily a leg-spinner. Today he is the best batsman in Test cricket. West Indies legendary all-rounder Garfield Sobers (60.14) and England’s Wally Hammond (60.00) are the only other players to have averaged 60 after 57 matches – not at all bad for a player who started out as a leg-spinner.
He was always a great fielder and decent with bat and ball, but with each innings he seems to be reaching the summit of the greatest batsman. To add to it, he is just 28 years old and looks good for another five to seven years.
Alastair Cook was supposed to challenge Sachin Tendulkar’s batting record of 51 centuries, but his form seems to have deserted him. Now it seems Steven Smith could really have a crack at that record, and with age on his side he should definitely aim for that landmark.
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