Sachin Tendulkar explains Steve Smith phenomenon

Steve Smith owned the Ashes 2019. On his return from a year-long ban, the former Australian Test captain just batted and batted. In the recently concluded Ashes Test series, Smith scored 774 runs in only seven appearances. After his phenomenal 144 and 142 in the first Test, Smith capped off the effort with a spectacular 211 at Manchester in the fourth Test. He scored three centuries and three fifties in total. While the world is busy in discovering the secret of getting Smith out, Sachin Tendulkar shared his opinion on the number one Test batsman in the world.

Watching Smith bat across the Test series, Sachin gave away his insights on the playing style and batting mindset of the Australian maverick. In the short video that he recently uploaded, the Master Blaster dissected the quirky moves.

Sachin observed that in the first Test, the English bowlers tried to get Smith out in the slip cordon by consistently bowling outside off stump to him. Smith countered this by shuffling and moving across. He covered the line of the ball well and selected his attacking shots smartly.

The Indian legend noted a change in strategies after the Lord’s Test (2nd Test). Smith missed out the third Test due to concussion and returned in time to play the fourth. England started employing the leg slip for him. According to the Master Blaster, Smith had earlier adjusted by putting a bit more weight on his back foot. Although this worked well on most occasions, it came with disadvantages as he got into bad positions against Jofra Archer’s short balls. He was hit near the head in the second Test as well.

As per Sachin, Smith worked on this and improved his position in the final two Tests. This changed the way he faced the short balls. The most important factor according to Sachin was Smith’s alertness of the field. The Master noted, “When there was leg slip, he always guarded his leg stump. This is why I said he has a complicated technique but with an organised mindset.”

Smith’s exaggerated shuffle helps him plunder runs in the leg side region. It also forces the bowlers in believing that they can trap him on the move and get him out bowled or LBW. However, the shrewd batsman has made most of such deliveries by deflecting them towards the leg side.

Also read: Steve Smith: Australia’s Phoenix rising from the Ashes

COMPLICATED TECHNIQUE but an ORGANIZED MINDSET is what sets @stevesmith49 apart. Incredible comeback!#ENGvsAUS pic.twitter.com/02MNGkYQ7y

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 5, 2019