‘But huge respect to him for trying out new challenges’- Fans react as Steve Smith falls for a duck in 2nd innings of Wellington Test vs New Zealand
Steve Smith’s recent move to the opening slot in Test cricket for Australia has garnered much attention. While the experiment showcased his resilience with a 91 against West Indies in the recent […]
SHARE
Mar 1, 2024 11:48 am
Steve Smith’s recent move to the opening slot in Test cricket for Australia has garnered much attention. While the experiment showcased his resilience with a 91 against West Indies in the recent historic Test, the overall picture paints a less rosy tale.
His other innings have been underwhelming. This inexperience shows, particularly in handling the new ball, a crucial aspect for openers. Facing swing and seam early in the innings requires a different approach compared to his usual middle-order role, where he often arrives at the crease with the shine off the ball gone, at least partially.
His latest failure as an opener came just sometime back as he was dismissed for a duck by Tim Southee in the second innings of the ongoing Test match between Trans-Tasman rivals, Australia and New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. While the dismissal has garnered a lot of attention in itself, the manner of it has added to the criticism.
While the experiment showcased his resilience with a 91 against West Indies in the recent historic Test, the overall picture paints a less rosy tale.
Smith went chasing after an outswinger, producing an inside edge that made a mess of his stumps. It was too loose a shot from a player of such high quality. While the Aussies are still in a good position, the drive was needless and on another day, could have spelled trouble for the visitors.
A matter of time?
However, dismissing Smith’s potential based on a small sample size would be premature. His exceptional batting talent and adaptability are undeniable. He’s already shown glimpses of his class at the top, converting starts into a substantial knock against West Indies.
Furthermore, transitioning to a new role, especially one as demanding as opening, requires time and adjustments. Smith’s experience and temperament suggest he can overcome these initial hurdles.
Whether this experiment proves successful remains to be seen. While the initial results have been inconsistent, Smith’s talent and potential for growth offer a glimmer of hope for Australia’s reshuffled batting order.
Here’s a look at how ‘X-verse’ reacted to Smith’s 3-ball duck:
But huge respect to him for trying out new challenges man. Lesser men would only focus on numbers and hold on to their colossal ~60 avg
