Ashes 2019 | Steve Smith’s and Don Bradman’s name can now be transposed, claims Australian cricket writers
Senior Australian cricket writer, Gideon Haigh, has claimed that Steve Smith can not only be mentioned in the same sentence as Don Bradman, but their names are now interchangeable. Meanwhile, former captain Ricky Ponting showered praises on Smith’s unbelievable levels of concentration.
Since returning from a 12-month ball-tampering ban, Smith has taken his game to a whole new level. With his 211 in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, he averages 147.25 during the series, with two other hundreds to his name. His worst performance was the 92 at Lord’s. The Australian media believe that the gap between him and Bradman himself is narrowing every day.
“We’re at the point where Smith and Bradman can not only be used in the same sentence but transposed,” Haigh said, reported Hindustan Times.
It is to be noted that only Bradman had scored more centuries and double centuries against England, and had a higher batting average (99.94) than Smith’s current 64.64.
“Double ton confirms Smith’s greatness. His score of 211 was an innings beyond significance for the match alone, it was one which took the batting genius beyond comparisons with anyone other than Sir Donald Bradman,” the Sydney Daily Telegraph wrote.
Praise cames in from another former batting great of the game, Ponting, who hailed Smith as ‘a genius’ after his double century put Australia well in control of the penultimate Ashes Test.
“You hear all sorts of words, ‘genius’ is one that comes to mind. A remarkable innings again. It’s his application to what he does. He just doesn’t make any mistakes. His concentration levels are obviously unbelievably good. Even what Smithy is doing now is remarkable, to think how good Bradman must have been to be a third again better than what Steve Smith’s doing at the moment is ridiculous,” Ponting told cricket.com.au.
However, Ponting did offer some advice on how to get Smith out. Yesterday, it was Joe Root who finally dismissed him, when Smith’s attempted reverse sweep off the part-timer only found Joe Denly at short third man.
“He’s only been out nine times lbw in his last 99 innings, so you know if you’re bowling straight you’re not going to get him out. The one thing you have to do is try and challenge the outside of his bat. He doesn’t miss it on the inside,” Ponting added.
For all his efforts, Smith regained the numero uno spot in the ICC Test batting rankings last week ahead of India’s Virat Kohli.