"He's got some luck coming his way" - Former teammate on Steven Smith's form ahead of BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Former Australian batter Callum Ferguson believes the struggling Steve Smith could see his fortunes turn around soon. The comments came ahead of the crucial third Border-Gavaskar Trophy game against India in Brisbane, starting on Saturday, December 14.
Smith has been in woeful Test form in 2024, averaging 23.30 with a lone half-century in 13 innings. The 35-year-old has endured a dreaded India series thus far, averaging under seven after two Tests.
Yet, Ferguson feels the champion batter is moving well forward and back through the crease - a positive sign for Smith and Australia.
Ferguson said on the Around the Wicket Podcast in the build-up to the Brisbane Test [0:57]:
"My gut feeling is he's (Smith) got some luck coming his way, as we just mentioned caught down the leg side. But I feel like he's moving quite well through the ball, watching him closely at the ground during commentary. It looks like his body weight is transferring both ways really nicely but he just can't get away at the moment. Really hope he gets set and gets into the game because if he gets set then at some point he's going to hurt someone."
Despite Smith's low scores, Australia leveled the five-match series at 1-1 with a 10-wicket win in the second Test in Adelaide.
"History would suggest that at 35, it's tough" - Simon Katich on Smith returning to his best
Former Australian opener Simon Katich feared Steve Smith might struggle to return to his best with the bat at his advanced age of 35.
The veteran right-hander is Australia's fourth all-time leading run-scorer in Tests with 9,704 runs at an average of 56.09, including 32 centuries in 111 matches.
Speaking on the same podcast about Smith's concerning form, Katich said [0:12]:
"It is a concern, those numbers (Test average this year). I am not going to write him off just yet because we know in these conditions he's very good but history would suggest that at 35, it's tough and you would think that it's going to be to be back to his best. Because generally, 35-year-olds have been past their peak so he has got some tough challenges ahead."
He added:
"And we know how great Steve Smith has been, averaging 60 in Test cricket and being the standout of this generation. I think the hard part is that second innings in Perth he looked really good in terms of his movements and the way he was hitting the ball. He then got a pretty good ball from Siraj and he was unlucky in Adelaide to be strangled down the leg side."
Smith has often been a thorn in the Indian side throughout his Test career, averaging an imperious 60.61 with nine centuries in 21 outings.
However, his last red-ball century came way back in June 2023 against England in the Ashes.