Steve Smith has issued a warning to England, stating that they have yet to face the might of Australia’s cricket team. His comments came after Australia’s formidable pace attack dismantled India on the second day of the World Test Championship final, reducing them to 151-5 in response to Australia’s imposing total of 469 at The Oval, just a week before the highly anticipated Ashes series gets underway.
England has garnered attention with their aggressive and successful approach, winning 11 out of their last 13 Tests in an impressive fashion under the leadership of captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. This stark contrast to their previous struggles, including a 4-0 loss in the last Ashes series in Australia, has caught the attention of Smith.
“I’ve enjoyed watching how they’ve played,” admitted Smith. “We’ll wait and see how it comes off against us.”
England’s resurgence has been characterized by their ‘Bazball’ style, in which they have scored their runs at a remarkable rate of 4.85 an over, a full run more than any other team in Test cricket during the same period. However, Smith emphasized that this approach has not yet been tested against the quality of Australia’s bowling attack, which exhibited its devastating prowess against the Indian team.
On a pitch that offered significant bounce and movement, Scott Boland, Cameron Green, and Mitchell Starc showcased their exceptional skills by producing magical deliveries and inflicting body blows on the Indian batters. Smith expressed his curiosity about how England’s aggressive batting style would fare against Australia’s bowlers.
“When Bazball started, I was intrigued to see how it would go against our bowlers. I’ve maintained that stance all along,” stated the former Australia captain, who recently completed his 31st Test century with a score of 121. “Defending and scoring runs on this kind of pitch, which exhibits uneven bounce and seam movement, is no easy task. They have done well against other attacks, but they have yet to face us. We’ll see how it plays out.”
While Smith praised Boland’s impressive debut series performance in the previous Ashes, where he took 18 wickets in three Tests, he acknowledged the challenge of breaking into Australia’s bowling attack alongside captain Pat Cummins. Boland would need to displace either of the established members, Mitchell Starc or Josh Hazlewood, to earn a spot.
“I have recently faced Scotty in the nets, and he is bowling exceptionally well,” commended Smith. “His ability to generate angles and hit the stumps from a slightly shorter length than our other bowlers is a significant advantage. He possesses remarkable skills. As for whether he will replace any of the ‘big three,’ I do not have the answer, but he is undoubtedly a high-quality prospect.”
As the Ashes series draws near, the anticipation intensifies, with both teams eager to prove their dominance on the cricketing stage.
5 comments
Steve Smith really put England on notice! He’s like, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” Australia’s pace attack totally wrecked India, and now he’s warning England that they haven’t faced them yet. Can’t wait to see how it goes down in the Ashes!
England’s been killin’ it lately, no doubt. Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum got ’em playing some fearless cricket. But Smithy’s right, they haven’t come up against Australia’s top-notch bowlers. Gonna be a real test for England’s “Bazball” style. Exciting times ahead!
Smith’s century was a masterclass! But hey, let’s not forget about Scott Boland. That lad’s been impressive, even though he hasn’t played much in the UK. Could he break into Australia’s deadly attack? Who knows, but he’s definitely one to watch out for. The Ashes are gonna be fire!
England’s turnaround has been insane, scoring runs like there’s no tomorrow. But can they keep up the same pace against Australia’s quality bowlers? Smith’s got a point, this pitch is tricky as hell. Swingin’ and seamin’ all over the place. It’s gonna be a tough battle for both teams. Can’t wait!
The Ashes, man! The ultimate cricket rivalry. Smith’s warning is sending shivers down my spine. Australia’s pace attack has been on fire, and England’s gonna face the heat. Will their aggressive style hold up against the Aussies? The suspense is killing me! Let the battle begin!