Having started his career as a leg spinner and a tail-ender in international cricket, Steve Smith rode on his consistency to become the number one Test batsman in ICC Rankings. He made his debut against Pakistan in 2010 at the 'Mecca of Cricket' Lord's. It was a disastrous debut for the former Australian skipper as he scored 1 and 12 runs in successive innings, though he was decent with the bowl as he picked up three wickets in second innings while he did not get chance to ball in the first innings. He marked his name in international cricket in 2013 Ashes, where he scored his first Test century at Oval. Despite having an unorthodox batting stance, Smith suddenly started dominating Test cricket as he has the ability to play both fast and spin bowlers. The 2014-2015 series against India was the path-breaking series for the Aussie as he scored four centuries. It was in the same summer when he was appointed as Australia's 45th Test captain in place of injured Michael Clarke. Everything was going right for the right-handed batsman but suddenly life took a U-turn and he got involved in the ball-tampering scandal with his two Australia teammates David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. The scandal, which rocked the cricket world, happened during a Test match against South Africa. Smith and Warner are suspended for One year while the young fast bowler Bancroft is suspended for nine months.
Read MoreBefore the start of the series, Smith had warned that he has "found his hands", referring to the rhythm he was enjoying.
Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has now suggested the key to get Smith out cheaply in the final ODI, which will be played in Canberra on Wednesday.
Smith said it was team doctor Leigh Golding, who relieved him of the symptoms by performing Epley maneuver.
Smith's quick-fire 104-run knock propelled Australia to a mammoth 389 for four in the second ODI, which they defended easily to secure a decisive 2-0 lead in the ODI series.
Smith's batting masterclass made the difference as Australia went on to post a mammoth 389-run total on the scoreboard.
Steve Smith scored back-to-back ton in the Australia-India series to become only the fourth batsman to score three consecutive centuries against the sub-continent giants with a 64-ball 104 in Sydney on Sunday.
Smith also heaped praise on Finch and Warner for their knocks at the top.
Virat Kohli's men started exactly on a note they wouldn't have liked, giving away 374 runs in 50 overs with rival captain Aaron Finch (114 off 124 balls) and his illustrious predecessor Steve Smith (105 off 66 balls) hitting contrasting hundreds.
Smith was ultimately bowled in by Mohammed Shami in the last over. He walked back after scoring a match-defining 66-ball 105.
Sachin Tendulkar has suggested the bowling strategy for Indian pacers against "unconventional" Steve Smith.
Rohit, who is nursing a hamstring injury, is reportedly out of the series while skipper Kohli will be on paternity leave after the first Day/Night Test in Adelaide.
Steve Smith said that Neil Wagner is patient and consistent with his short ball approach, which might be very difficult to replicate for the Indian bowlers.
The Australian top-order batsman says he has finally found 'his hands' for the first time since the COVID-19 lockdown
The strategy had worked successfully during Australia's home series against New Zealand with Neil Wagner being the architect. Smith had returned with poor numbers by his standards.
India without captain Virat Kohli in Tests will be akin to Australia without Steve Smith and David Warner, according to former Australia fast bowler Geoff Lawson.
McDonald pointed out the strategy had failed to work during the ODI series against India at the start of this year in his knocks of 98 and 131.
Smith, along with Warner, was not part of the 2018-19 series against India when Virat Kohli's men won the Test and the ODI series Down Under.
In Smith's truancy, Tim Paine was assigned the captaincy role in the traditional format while Aaron Finch led the limited-overs side.
Smith was not part of the previous series between the two teams as he was serving his one-year suspension for the ball-tampering scandal.
The RR skipper felt he and other senior batsmen should have taken more responsibility throughout the tournament after Rajasthan Royals IPL 2020 runs end with loss to KKR.
Top News
Trending News
Latest News