India tour of Australia: ‘I haven’t had too many stresses about short bowling’ – Steve Smith unfazed by Indian pacers’ potential short bowling

India tour of Australia: ‘I haven’t had too many stresses about short bowling’ – Steve Smith unfazed by Indian pacers’ potential short bowling
Steve Smith

Australian batsman Steve Smith has called for India’s pace bowlers to bring on short pitched bowling during the Test series in India’s tour of Australia. He further stated that if India keep bowling short balls to him, it will work in Australia’s favor.

His comments have come after the happenings in Australia’s most recent Test series against New Zealand where pacer Neil Wagner kept bowling short balls to Smith and dismissed him four times. It is noteworthy that Smith still averaged 42.80 during the series.

During the series, due to the barrage of short balls, Smith batted very slowly. His strike rate was just 34.13. However, his knocks helped Australia soak up pressure and wear the bowlers down which in turn helped other batsmen get going.

‘I just play the game and sum up the conditions’ – Smith

Steve Smith

Speaking about the upcoming all-important Test series against India, “It’s no dramas for me. I just play the game and sum up the conditions, how they’re trying to get me out and being able to counter that,” Smith told News Corp. “I mean, a few different oppositions have tried it and they’ve certainly found it more difficult to [execute it] the way Wagner did. He’s got an amazing skill set where his speeds go up and down…everything is between your ribs and your head.“

Smith further made it clear that he is unfazed by short-pitched bowling saying, “If teams are trying to get me out like that it’s probably a big benefit for the team because it takes a lot out of people’s bodies if you continually bowl short. I’ve faced a lot of short bowling in my life and I haven’t had too many stresses with it. I suppose we’ll just wait and see.”

Smith then spoke of Australia’s bowling attack calling it world-class. “A world-class bowling attack. And two years better,” he said. “I can’t wait to see them go. And we’ve got good depth as well. James Pattinson who has come back from that back injury, we saw how powerful that was during the last Ashes in England. Michael Neser keeps playing well over and over again. And Sean Abbott, every Shield player I’m talking to they’re all saying he is bowling fast,” Smith signed off.

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