Steve Smith’s most recent Ashes performance was the finest of his astonishing Test career. If he can destroy England in difficult circumstances, what kind of carnage can he wreak in easier home conditions this summer?
Cricket fans are inundated with Smith stats these days. But here’s one you might not be familiar with – over the last five years Smith has averaged nearly 100 in home Tests.
In that period he has churned out 2,604 runs at 96 at home, including a phenomenal haul of 11 tons from just 21 Tests.
That includes two of the most dominant home series by an Australian batsman in history – 769 runs at 128 in just four Tests against India, and 687 runs at 137 against England in the last Ashes down under.
When Pakistan last toured, Smith hammered them for 441 runs at 110. Yet Smith is an even better batsman now than he was then and, quite possibly, hungrier too after spending 12 months in international exile.
Smith’s effort in the 2019 Ashes is as good as any performance I’ve ever witnessed by a batsman across a Test series.
In a series where most of the batsmen from both sides laboured badly against the swinging, seaming Dukes ball, Smith made cricket look ludicrously easy.
To score 774 runs from just seven innings in those circumstances left most of us in disbelief. Consider that, had he not missed three innings due to concussion, Smith was on pace to make 1,106 runs for the series.
So many things about his Ashes were extraordinary. To start with, he had not played a first-class match in 16 months before the Ashes.
Logic suggested he should have had some rust. Secondly, the conditions he faced were those which had troubled him most in his Test career, with generous swing and seam on offer to the England quicks, and a good left arm spinner to target another “weakness”.
Thirdly, he suffered a sickening blow from a scorching Jofra Archer bouncer. Such a heavy knock would prompt mental doubts for most batsmen, which in turn could create fresh technical issues.
The UK press certainly thought so, with several English pundits barely concealing their excitement as they questioned whether Smith would be the same batsman when he returned.
Steve Smith. Solid batsman. (Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Archer proceeded to level a torrent of short balls at Smith in the fourth and fifth Tests. The result? Smith thumped 396 runs in those two matches, dominating Archer throughout.
Australian coach Justin Langer has repeatedly marvelled at what he calls Smith’s ability to solve problems. Archer had presented Smith with a problem. The Australian legend solved it immediately.
In Archer, England thought they had finally discovered Smith’s kryptonite. Then Smith went: “Nope”. Archer failed to dismiss him in the entire series while conceding more than 100 runs to Smith.
Meanwhile, England veteran Stuart Broad was in prime form, seaming and swinging the Dukes prodigiously yet he too was powerless against Smith.
If the former Australian captain maintains that touch this summer it is hard to see how either Pakistan or New Zealand can prevent him from cutting loose.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas and New Zealand’s Trent Boult shape as the two bowlers best equipped for this task. Abbas is remarkably accurate, while Boult has the late swing and left arm angle to offer a point of difference.
Yet if Archer and Broad couldn’t go close to containing him, despite otherwise running amok in home conditions with the Dukes ball, what chance do the Pakistan and New Zealand bowlers have with the unhelpful Kookaburra on flatter pitches?
Pakistan, in particular, look vulnerable to a Smith assault. Abbas aside, the remainder of the Pakistan quicks are unproven, while their spinner Yasir Shah averaged 84 last time he toured Australia.
Smith batting at his Ashes level could do just about anything against Pakistan. New Zealand’s greater depth of pace bowling talent should present a far sterner test.
However, the Kiwis will need to have very specific plans to Smith, combined with the ability to execute them and the patience to stick with them, if they’re any hope of keeping him quiet.
Smith has averaged nearly 100 at home in the past five years and it won’t surprise me if he maintains that over the course of this Australian summer. With Smith, anything is possible.
JGK
Roar Guru
Turns out that the power of Ronan’s written word can stop Smith averaging 100.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
bobbo probably of all places won't make a century at Brisbane ! smith likes the pressure
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I could believe perhaps a little higher with the drop in pitches , same could be said for all of them though now , warner included who begins to look at little more ordinary if aussie pitches step up his average. The thing is smith is batting at 60 average in england. hardly any aussies have done that over 10 plus matches in over a decade thats for sure.
Bobbo7
Guest
A total of 3 innings in NZ and 4 in WI (total 7) - hardly a massive pool. Fact is in 50 innings in Australia he averages 77. Bloody great effort and he is a superstar. But again, he is averaging 77 on the flattest wickets in Australian history and possibly the best battings wickets anywhere. This surely is putting his average bit higher than players from past eras.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
His Averages are pretty amazing abroad though , Australia pitches are his third highest av. He’s done much better in NZ and WI. http://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerCountries.asp?PlayerID=3756
Bobbo7
Guest
To be fair NZ are a good side. Williamson Taylor Nicholls Latham Watling Boult Wagner And the others are not bad either. That is a decent side. I reckon they will put up a good fight. If they select Ferguson as well that is handy attack.
Simoc
Guest
I'm not so sure about this. Smith normally is under pressure because most of his batting teammates have been second rate in the past at delivering on a regular basis. If the rest start delivering I'm expecting him to get out earlier. He's a fantastic talent but not great to watch.
Bobbo7
Guest
It will be another summer of concrete roads in Australia and Smith and Warner will make plenty. Smith is a great player. But I can't help but feel his lofty numbers are helped by the last 5 years of the flattest decks in Australian history. Superstar but surely his average is 5-8 more than it might the been in past eras?
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Smith will probably captain if Cummins doesn't Wesman. No other candidates right now and Smith will be a much better captain for his negligence in SA, he won't let anyone pull any stunts when off the field again let alone on it. It could make him even better .
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I have my reservations as to whether he will average 80 let alone 100 but it doesn't matter he's a freakishly talented batsman . Expecting warner to make a lot more to take the heat off him but lets see if Warner can be near as prolific as his old australian form. It is pakistan and new zealand , not SA and India we are playing though this time so no excuses . Also a watchful eye on labs to see if he can move english pitch form to australian pitches and if Head can redicscover last summers form (and more discipline) . If smith averages 60 plus he will have done his job and done it well yet again
matth
Roar Guru
Maybe Wagner, as the sort of bowler who just seems to make things happen? Otherwise, he'll get to at least 80 average, given the pink ball tests might get him once or twice.
JGK
Roar Guru
Was about to say the same thing. Two pink ball tests will likely make it much harder this summer.
Dutski
Roar Guru
The commentator's curse... If he fails it's on you, O'Connell...
Wesman
Guest
No. S. Smith is unstoppable, only his own persona can bring him undone, as a batsman. His record is impossible to dismiss. However, he is a selfish cricketer. I've seen him run out team mates and hopefully the Captaincy is beyond him. Tim Paine is on borrowed time, the lad who keeps in white ball cricket has him covered. Which begs the question, who captain's into the future? I don't know, but I think we'll know by the end of Summer. Another summer without Benaud! I miss him. Australia to defeat Pakistan 2-0.
Brian
Guest
Difference is there were no day/night mathces in the Ashes and I think in Adelaide and Perth we have 2 out of 5 this summer. Smith's has previoulsy played 3 day/night tests in Adelaide and made 53, 14, 59, 40, 40 and 6 at an average of 35.33. Nothing wrong with that when teams are making 200-250 but might make it hard to average 100.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Nothing to do with Smith, I just can't get interested in a two Test 'series'. 3-3 with a Test in the Test captains' State would have been better. Stupid BBL. Speaking of States... I saw that legendary depth of NSW come to the fore in the Marsh Cup. :laughing: Speaking of NSW... How critical is Brad Haddins' role to the Test side if they can let him go thousands of kilometres away to commentate a List A game the day before a Test?
Paul
Roar Guru
I hope Smith not only does NOT average in the 100's, but doesn't NEED to average so high - because Warner, Burns, Labuschagne and Head in particular, all have 500 plus Test series. These guys seriously need to step up and if they do, what need for Smith to bat so long and score so many runs? He's certainly fun to watch, but so is an all-round batting effort from a committed top 6.
Cantab
Roar Rookie
lockie ferguson (If he plays, looks like he might not) will keep him in the high 90’s.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
The Pakistan quicks might be unproven, but there's undoubtedly talent there. And sometimes unfamiliarity has its advantages.