“He just loves scoring runs whether it is opening or at No. 4” – Shane Watson downplays Steve Smith’s failure as opener ahead of 2024-25 BGT
Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson has backed Steve Smith to return to his peak with the bat in the upcoming 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Watson pointed out that Smith was wrong with his technique because of which he failed to deliver as an opener. He reckoned that Smith at his very best would love scoring big regardless of the batting position.
Notably, Smith will return to No. 4 for the five-match Test series against India. The right-handed batter replaced David Warner as an opener and managed just 171 runs in four Tests at an average of 28.50 with the best score of an unbeaten 91. The 35-year-old has scored the bulk of his runs at No. 4, amassing 5966 in 67 Tests (111 innings) at an average of 61.50, including 19 tons and 26 half-centuries.
Watson told Willow Talk Cricket Podcast (via The Times of India):
“Steve wanted to open. He was super keen to take up a new challenge. But one thing with that opportunity he had was he wasn’t actually batting at his best at that time. So he got an opportunity to open and Steve Smith at his very best would have made the most out of it because he just loves scoring runs whether it is opening or at No. 4.”
“You could see a few times he got out when he was opening -- his game and his technique was a little bit off,” he added.
Smith loves playing against India, scoring 2,042 runs in 19 Tests with the help of nine centuries and five 50s.
“It looked like the very best of him” – Shane Watson on Steve Smith’s knocks versus Pakistan in ODI series
Shane Watson added that Steve Smith, in his opinion, returned to his very best during the ODI series against Pakistan. Smith returned with scores of 44 and 35 in his two outings.
Watson said in the same interaction:
“In the one-day series (against Pakistan), in one of the innings at the MCG -- wow, it looked like the very best of him. He had so much time and had all the shots. I’m confident that Smith will bring that version of him into this summer and whether he bats at No. 4 or opening, he will score runs.”
Steve Smith is on the verge of completing 10,000 runs in Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He has amassed 9685 runs in 109 Tests, including 32 tons and 41 fifties.