141*and DNB, 40 and 6, 239, 76, 102*, 83. These are the scores of the Australian Captain Steven Smith in the 2017-18 Ashes Series. He was the highest run-scorer in the series, leading the tally by more than 50% of the runs scored by the second-highest batsman on the list. The Beast currently averages 62.49 in Tests, 62.49!
And while Virat Kohli has firmly established himself as the king of white-ball cricket, Steven Smith has quietly shuffled his way to the Test immortality. This worried the Test bowlers all across the world and put the analysts in overdrive mode, trying to sneak a weakness of the batsman whose average drops if he gets out for 60.
The World thinks it has found the answer. The theory states that a potent left-arm spinner can catch Smith in the middle of his shuffle with spin and speed variation and get him out bowled, caught at slip or most probably LBW. The statistics pour in support of this.
Also Read: Steve Smith Reveals The Secrets Of His Batting Technique
The recent dismissals of Steven Smith against South Africa in the two Tests seem to confirm the theory. Three out of his four dismissals have come against Slow Left-arm (SLA) bowlers, one against Dean Elgar who is nothing more than a part-timer.
Digging in further, we find that, 14 of Steven Smith’s 41 dismissals in the Tests since 2016 are credited to SLA Spinners. This is also the only type of bowling against whom his batting average dips and it dips drastically.
Steve Smith versus All bowling types
(Batting average since Jan 1st, 2016)
Right-arm seam: 124.33
Left-arm seam: 175.00
Leg-spin: 74.00
Off-spin: 74.00
Left-arm orthodox spin: 21.92
It must be noted that this record is against some high-quality bowlers (Rangana Herath, Ravindra Jadeja) and on some vicious turning pitches. But still, the data cannot be ignored.
Steven Smith, however, has downplayed the ploy and has defended himself against the claim. The batsman replied by saying that in recent times, he has been lazy against such bowlers thus gifting them the wickets. He feels that he is a good player of spin and there is nothing specific about getting out to the Lefties.
With two more Tests to go in the series, Smith will be tested on how he bats against Keshav Maharaj. Another dismissal or two may very well mean that in future the opposition teams will ensure an SLA Spinner in the attack just to cross out Steven Smith.
The Third Test between South Africa and Australia starts at Newlands, Cape Town.
