Travis Head believes there are already signs Steve Smith is entering his 2019 Ashes zone after the pair’s dominant opening day against India at The Oval.
Smith went to stumps on 95 not out, needing five runs to score his fifth century in his last nine Test innings in England.
Together, they combined for an unbeaten 251-run stand, the highest fourth-wicket partnership by an Australian pair against India outside of Australia.
Head was the star of Wednesday with his unbeaten 146, but Smith wasn’t far behind.
And he is the man most likely to strike fear into England, given that his 774 runs at 110.57 was the leading force behind Australia retaining the urn.
Asked if there were signs of Smith’s 2019 ruthlessness in England returning with the way he barely offered a chance in his 227 balls, Head could see the similarities already.
“I felt like he’s been like that,” Head said.
“He loves batting over here. He played the county championship. I feel like there were moments where he could have got a couple of big scores there.
“He prepared well, it seems like he’s in a great space. I know how much he loves the environment over here and playing over here.
“He plays beautifully. It’s nice to see him in the runs and hopefully there will be more tomorrow.”
Albeit not against the likes of Stuart Broad or James Anderson, Smith still exhibited all the signs he is in good touch against India’s attack and the Dukes ball.
Steve Smith. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
He clipped it regularly off his toes nicely, sending it everywhere from the square-leg boundary to the rope at mid on.
He also drove on both sides of the wicket, with his delightful cover drive to end the day off Mohammed Shami as good as one early in his innings from Shardul Thakur.
Head too can see the advantages for Australia’s other batsmen if Smith is to fire in the Ashes.
“I’ve always said I do really enjoy batting with Steve because of how much attention he receives,” Head said.
“I always felt going out to bat with him feels like you’re in the shadow of that.
“You can sneak under the radar and go about your business because he has drawn so much attention.
“Today it felt like he he wasn’t going to go anywhere. He’s at the other end and just got in that rhythm and went about our business.”
jameswm
Roar Guru
And Ussie won't continue to fail. Let's see how Green and Carey go, then the bowlers. Great warm up test for the Ashes, given the match: - is in England, - is against quality opposition and - has a lot at stake.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Too early to call a bumper Ashes series, but Smith looked impressive yesterday. Moved through the gears nicely - was patient when he needed to be and pounced when there was an opportunity to score. Conditions were not easy for batting especially early in the day (and credit goes to Warner and Labuschagne for seeing off most of the toughest batting conditions), but Smith looked sharp from the start and his control percentage of 90% was exceptional in the conditions – just 23 false shots in 227 balls. Head on the other hand, for all the brilliance of his innings was much less secure, with a control percentage of 70% - he had 47 false shots in 156 balls. But he played exactly the way he needs to play in those conditions – he’s never going to have the watertight defence of Smith, so his calculated hitting was the right way to go. Loved watching Head smash the ball around, but there’s something exquisite about watching Steve Smith constructing a test innings, his ability to absorb pressure is something else. India gave up trying to get him out and set defensive leg-side fields, but he eventually just out-patienced them.