Brad Hogg, former Australian spinner suggested some tactics, using which India could get the better of Steve Smith who averages 62.84 in tests during the upcoming 4 match test series of Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
In 10 Tests against India, the 31-year-old Steve Smith has notched 1429 runs at an average of 84.05 with seven centuries. Despite the staggering numbers, Brad Hogg reckons that it’s not impossible to get rid of the premier in form batsman who is hungry for runs having missed the earlier India series in Australia.
Brad Hogg (Image Credit: Twitter)
Brad Hogg: Pacers Must Attack Stumps To Dismiss Steve Smith
The 4 match test series is set to get underway with the first Day-night Adelaide Test, and Brad Hogg feels that the Indian bowlers particularly pacers should be attacking the stumps, to bring the LBW into play, rather than bowling outside the off-stump and letting him being set by getting his eyes in.
“When Steve Smith first comes in, especially with this pink ball, if it’s swinging, attack the stumps with both the in-swing and the away-swing. I would have my point quite open and try to get him open the face and push that ball through that particular region. With the inswinger, you will try to get him LBW, ” Brad Hogg was quoted as saying in a video on his YouTube channel.
Steve Smith. Image Credit: Getty Images.
Steve Smith was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav during India tour in 2017 but he scored 3 tons. Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami dismissed him in 2014-15 in Australia but he scored 4 tons.
Brad Hogg: Spinner Must Utilize Bounce And Try To Induce False Stroke
As per the 49-year-old Brad Hogg, Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has the potential to dismiss the right-hander as well. Brad Hogg feels that Ravichandran Ashwin can use his height to good effect and tackle Steve Smith with some extra bounce, and subsequently inducing a false stroke. If he generates a fair amount of spin, he may get a chance to plumb him before wicket.
“With spin, I wouldn’t have a sweeper at deep square leg when he first comes in. I will bring him up and try to get Steve Smith to play that shot that he doesn’t want to play early on his innings. I would come over the wicket with Ashwin with that extra bounce. If Ashwin gets a little bit of spin, you are creating the LBW chance and the bat-pad chance,” he added.
Ravichandran Ashwin. Image Credit: Getty Images.
Steve Smith smashed 769 runs from four games in the 2014-15 Border Gavaskar Trophy at an incredible average of 128.16 with as many as four centuries. But he didn’t feature in the 2018-19 edition which India won 2-1 since he, along with David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, was serving the one-year ban for alleged ball-tampering. Steve Smith recently scored two tons against India in the first two ODIs in the 3 match ODI series which should keep him in good stead.
