Steven Smith's record-setting runs have stood out for Australia, as much as the ease with which he has scored them.
His
first-innings effort of 117 was testimony to his sizzling form in the
Border-Gavaskar series, negotiating difficult periods with careful
run-accumulation and accelerating after expertly judging the pulse of a
lacklustre Indian bowling attack. Steven Smith has played this way all
through the four-Test series. On the fourth day of the final Test at the
Sydney Cricket Ground, however, Smith went in T20 mode without the need
for outrageous stroke-play.
Smith has been in the zone all through the Australian summer, and as he had done in Adelaide, he picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Virat Kohli - he wanted Australia to go for their shots to lure them into throwing away wickets - and pulled the proverbial carpet from under his opposition's shaky feet.
Four hundreds, two half-centuries and 769 runs, the most ever scored by a batsman in a Test series spanning four Test matches or fewer. The batting fortunes of both Australia and India have been led by their captains, and even as the bowling has proved to be the difference between the sides, Steven Smith's record-setting returns have stood out for Australia, as much as the ease with which he has scored them.
In the field Smith showed glimpses of frustration on day three - a few choice words at the overhead camera that came in his way, a catch from Kohli bursting through his fingers at slip, hands on head when a mix-up didn't result in a run-out. He will be relieved when Michael Clarke comes back to take his place as captain as Smith is still finding his feet as Australia captain. But with the bat he has been a different beast.
The fourth-day SCG pitch had shown enough deterioration for Kohli to let R Ashwin take the new ball, and David Warner's wicket in his first over would have made them cautious, as was suggested by Shane Watson's approach. In the first innings too, Watson had taken his time. He has been out of form and needed to grind to get to 81. Smith, at the other end, was milking India's bowlers on his way to his fourth century of the series, one every game.
The nature of the surface and two early wickets should make Smith wary of taking the attack to the spinner. So he didn't. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have been erratic throughout the series, and Smith knows the loose ball is around the corner; the first ten overs had as many boundaries in the second innings. He waits for it. He gets it. To negate Ashwin's turn, Smith chips down the track, or rocks right back for a punch or a tuck. He is toying with India's bowlers.
Smith is street-smart. In the Super Over of an IPL match in 2014, he needed two off the last ball against Sunil Narine. He pushed it into a gap and ran two. The attraction of a heave over midwicket wasn't there. He just needed two.
At the SCG on Friday, Australia needed quick runs and lost the man who gives them the start. Smith's urgency didn't show in attempted heaves off every ball. He didn't need to. Umesh Yadav's first over got him four boundaries. Joe Burns, in his second Test, grew in confidence in Smith's company.
Smith has peaked against India but the foundations were laid over two Ashes and the South Africa tour. When he was finally pinned in front of the stumps by Mohammed Shami, he had 71 from 70 balls and India had a steadily rising fourth-innings target ahead of them.
With time, he will time his declarations better and get used to the spidercam. That day may just come tomorrow.
Smith has been in the zone all through the Australian summer, and as he had done in Adelaide, he picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Virat Kohli - he wanted Australia to go for their shots to lure them into throwing away wickets - and pulled the proverbial carpet from under his opposition's shaky feet.
Four hundreds, two half-centuries and 769 runs, the most ever scored by a batsman in a Test series spanning four Test matches or fewer. The batting fortunes of both Australia and India have been led by their captains, and even as the bowling has proved to be the difference between the sides, Steven Smith's record-setting returns have stood out for Australia, as much as the ease with which he has scored them.
In the field Smith showed glimpses of frustration on day three - a few choice words at the overhead camera that came in his way, a catch from Kohli bursting through his fingers at slip, hands on head when a mix-up didn't result in a run-out. He will be relieved when Michael Clarke comes back to take his place as captain as Smith is still finding his feet as Australia captain. But with the bat he has been a different beast.
The fourth-day SCG pitch had shown enough deterioration for Kohli to let R Ashwin take the new ball, and David Warner's wicket in his first over would have made them cautious, as was suggested by Shane Watson's approach. In the first innings too, Watson had taken his time. He has been out of form and needed to grind to get to 81. Smith, at the other end, was milking India's bowlers on his way to his fourth century of the series, one every game.
The nature of the surface and two early wickets should make Smith wary of taking the attack to the spinner. So he didn't. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have been erratic throughout the series, and Smith knows the loose ball is around the corner; the first ten overs had as many boundaries in the second innings. He waits for it. He gets it. To negate Ashwin's turn, Smith chips down the track, or rocks right back for a punch or a tuck. He is toying with India's bowlers.
Smith is street-smart. In the Super Over of an IPL match in 2014, he needed two off the last ball against Sunil Narine. He pushed it into a gap and ran two. The attraction of a heave over midwicket wasn't there. He just needed two.
At the SCG on Friday, Australia needed quick runs and lost the man who gives them the start. Smith's urgency didn't show in attempted heaves off every ball. He didn't need to. Umesh Yadav's first over got him four boundaries. Joe Burns, in his second Test, grew in confidence in Smith's company.
Smith has peaked against India but the foundations were laid over two Ashes and the South Africa tour. When he was finally pinned in front of the stumps by Mohammed Shami, he had 71 from 70 balls and India had a steadily rising fourth-innings target ahead of them.
With time, he will time his declarations better and get used to the spidercam. That day may just come tomorrow.
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