Former England captain Nasser Hussain said Steve Smith is still a puzzle to be solved, given his stunning numbers in Test cricket . The veteran believes that his century against India at the Kennington Oval in the World Test Championship (WTC) final showed no difference. Smith, who has been giving tough luck to England for several years now, scored a stunning hundred against India to set up a massive win. He averages 60.71 in English conditions and 59.69 against England.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Hussain said: “Nothing’s changed, as we saw in the first innings at the Oval against India. Just because he was leg before three times in county cricket doesn’t mean suddenly he’s a walking lbw. England — and all sides — have bowled one way then another at him and he just makes hundreds. It is still the puzzle everyone is trying to solve, that’s why his stats are phenomenal.”
He continued: “David Warner is very important for Australia. He can take games away from England but if they get him cheaply they might get Labuschagne and Smith in at 20 for two rather than 150 for two and that could be key. Bairstow is very important with both bat and gloves. His keeping will be under the microscope with Foakes left out.”
However, Jonny Bairstow returned in the one-off game against Ireland after nine months where although he did not bat against Ireland, but kept wickets for England as well. Nasser Hussain also felt Ben Stokes wouldn’t play for draws and expects him to do well in the Ashes.
“He has stuck to his word every step of the way after telling Ian Ward on Sky right at the start he wouldn’t play for draws and he did tell me I could hold him to it. Whether McCullum would be tapping him on the shoulder on that final day and saying ‘let’s just win the Ashes’ I don’t know. But they have been consistent in saying making Test cricket entertaining is the bigger picture, so I do think Stokes would declare in those. 3-2 but I just don’t know which way it will go! I’ll go England but Australia won the World Test Championship final for a reason. They are a very good side. It could be a special series,” Nasser Hussain concluded.
