Steve Smith has cast further doubt over whether England will be able to execute their fearless batting approach in the Ashes, asking again if it is possible for ‘Bazball’ to work against Australia.
Australia’s quicks had batsmen jumping all over the crease in their first bowl of the tour on Thursday, leaving India 5-151 at stumps on day two of the World Test Championship.
Australia are already well ahead of the game after striking 469 in their first innings, putting them on track for not only a world title but a perfect Ashes lead in.
In an action-packed afternoon at The Oval, India batsman Ajinkya Rahane was hit on both the helmet and the hand, requiring medical treatment after the latter blow.
Virat Kohli was also dismissed to a ball that reared up at him from Mitchell Starc, striking him on the glove on the way to Smith at second slip.
Almost as notable was the fact that Scott Boland sent down four maidens in his 11 overs, bowling with discipline that would be hard for England to get away if he is picked.
Smith has been a fan of England’s approach to cricket under Brendon McCullum in the past year, with the team rattling along at a run-rate of 4.85 and winning 11 of 13 Tests.
But after questioning last July how it would work against Australia’s attack, Smith still has his serious doubts.
“I mean, I think it’d be difficult on this kind of wicket that’s up and down and seaming around – it’s not easy to defend let alone come out and swing,” Smith said.
“I said it initially when Bazball started that I’m intrigued to see how it goes against our bowlers. I’ve said that all along.
“They’ve obviously done well against some other attacks, but they haven’t come up against us yet. So, we’ll see.”
Adding further weight to Smith’s question is that Australia have been the most economical bowling side in the world in recent years.
They have also vowed to fire with fire, unwilling to become more defensive to contain England and rather take it to the hosts with the expectation that wickets will fall faster.
Australia made a clear point to attack the stumps on Thursday against India, after their rivals were accused of getting their lengths wrong on day one.
“The length at off stump is important,” Smith said.
“We’ve obviously seen a bit of variable bounce and some seam movement. So if we’re challenging the top of the stumps as much as possible, that’s the quickest way home.”
England could have their hands full as well trying to limit Smith, their 2019 tormentor.
At the venue which really blasted Smith’s Test career into the stratosphere, there was an unmistakable feel The Oval might once again prove the launchpad for Australia’s main man to enjoy a soaring summer in England.
The second day of the World Test Championship final was just three balls old when Smith clipped a second consecutive juicy leg-side half-volley from Mohammed Siraj to the boundary to complete another landmark in his remarkable career.
All of England groaned. Couldn’t feisty Siraj have made him work for his latest Test hundred, a 31st? “Like getting a full bowl of ice cream with a little cherry on top,” chuckled Matthew Hayden in the commentary box.
The milestones came thick and fast. Two thousand runs against India alone. A ninth hundred against India, equalling Joe Root’s all-time record. This seventh century in England matching Steve Waugh’s mark, leaving only Don Bradman (11) ahead among visiting batters.
When Bradman is the only one left to catch, you’re talking about someone extremely special – and for the England team, currently working on ways to derail him, there was an ominous touch of deja vu.
“There’s a lot of talented bowlers in our changing room who have worked out ways we can challenge him,” England batter Ollie Pope had been telling reporters this week.
“I can’t say too much but there’s probably slightly different plans this time.”
They had better be good. For while – astonishingly after 97 Tests – Smith’s still averaging over 60, that figure rises to 102 at The Oval, where his latest controlled masterpiece was his third hundred to go with a half-century in just six innings.
Asked if he felt it could inspire him to another Ashes beanfeast like his 2019 campaign that reaped 774 runs, he said: “Yeah, hopefully. It was nice to spend a lot of time out there against some good bowlers on a challenging wicket after getting sent in.
“So I’ll take a lot of confidence out of that and hopefully can keep building and have a successful summer.”
There’s a bouncy Aussie feel to the world’s oldest Test ground that inspires him. Back in 2013, Smith’s 138no was his first century in the format after 22 innings, during which time he’d never quite been able to convince his doubters.
But that innings provided the springboard for him to make three more hundreds in the following Aussie summer.
The feel is similar that, after a lean spell by his standards, he’s timed his return to form perfectly with his chanceless knock.
Before Thursday, he hadn’t notched up a ton in any form of the game in a dozen innings since his back-to-back T20 hundreds in the Big Bash League in January. Indeed he’d only got past 40 once, a positive famine by his standards.
Steve Smith. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
But he looked in such assured nick on Thursday, complete with all his old familiar fidgety mannerisms at the wicket after his recent experiments with more Zen-like stillness at the crease, that it needed a double-take when he edged a Shardul Thakur outswinger back into his stumps on 121.
Asked about the England ‘Bazball’ challenge ahead, Smith noted pointedly: “They’ve obviously done well against some other attacks, but they haven’t come up against us yet.”
Whereas England know all about ‘Smithball’. Assured, controlled, with no unnecessary risks, a patient 268-ball knock to put the squeeze on opponents.
“I love playing in England,” he had smiled at start of play. Pope and his teammates may not feel quite as enamoured about watching him.
© AAP
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