Steve Smith has his eyes fixed firmly on Australia’s cricketing ambitions, as he gets ready to walk out as captain of the home side. As he prepares for the next Ashes series with England. Smith has a prolific history of 3,417 runs in 37 Tests against England, with an average of 56.01 to show from. Not so much for the Australian side without him. His prowess in high pressure situations is proven over and over again, most recently with 12 centuries to his name against the English side.
Smith has an impressive record resume, but he has been feeling the pressure building. As England’s pace attack prepares to use Bodyline bowling tactics, shadows of controversial practices from yesteryear are in the way. Ben Stokes, in tandem with coach Brendon McCullum, will look to get under Smith’s skin and try to take him out of his game. Taking this unfortunate step forward would have disastrous ramifications. Former England fast bowler Steven Finn warns that trying to get to Smith will end up damaging England’s chances.
Smith had a terrifying experience in the 2019 Ashes. A bouncer from Jofra Archer hit him directly on the helmet, causing him to have to miss the next Test at Headingley due to concussion. This incident did not help raise the expectations surrounding his performance as he gets set to square off against a possibly unwelcoming pace battery.
As one of the traditional openers for Australia in tandem with Usman Khawaja, Smith’s spot in the batting order is important. And as we’ve previously discussed, there are ongoing conversations to promote Marnus Labuschagne to the top of the batting order. He could open with the experienced 38-year-old Khawaja. But this is the sort of decision that mirrors the larger strategic considerations Australian selectors are looking to balance in the lead up to this high-stakes series.
The intimidation factor when Smith walks to the crease is real, sometimes leading to fielders positioned at every single point on the diamond. His reputation precedes him, leading some to comment that “the way he is spoken about it sounds like he’s played a hundred Tests.” This recognition of Smith’s influence and legacy goes to show just what kind of crucial player Smith is for Australia.
With the Ashes series approaching, Smith had shown pretty much as good kind as anyone might want. Most expect him to be key in guiding Australia to their first World Cup victory. The psychological warfare declared by the English camp will prove a more insidious challenge. Finn suggested that Australian media attempts to provoke Stokes could inadvertently affect Smith’s performance, emphasizing the psychological dynamics at play.
Ahead of the series, Smith has considered a strict vegan diet and rigorous training routine. Ben Duckett described his approach, stating, “We’ve been out here for a few days and he’s been in beast mode. He’s been running, bowling two spells, batting for two hours. The way he trains these days is something I’ve never seen before. He’s an absolute beast.” This discipline and practice exemplifies Smith’s effort to uphold quality performance every time.
The looming presence of England’s fast bowlers adds another layer of complexity to Smith’s challenge. With Jofra Archer’s extensive injury history, it would be hard to not have questions about his consistency. Commentators still bemoan the fact that he has only played 14 Tests since his debut more than six years ago. After all, Archer’s impact will depend on his match fitness and whether he can keep the speed up over five Tests.
Lord Botham weighed in on England’s bowling strategies, suggesting an aggressive approach could unsettle Australian batsmen: “You want to be aggressive; you want the ball to come through. Players who aren’t in good form don’t like it in the ribs.” This emotion was at the heart of England’s plan to attack Australia’s bludgeon with their own iron fist.
As Smith gets ready to face off on the field of battle, he knows that every second is going to count. He has indicated he would be glad to take any trash talk from the other side. In a light-hearted comment about being sledged by England fans, Jake Weatherald said, “Being sledged by the Barmy Army would be one of the greatest moments of my life.”
The next Ashes series is shaping up to be one of the greatest ever matches between these two red-hot uncivilized but aspirational rascals. Under Steve Smith’s leadership, competitive cricket is undeniably beautiful. Cricket fans should welcome it. Get ready for a thrilling ride as the two best teams in Major League Soccer go head to head!
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