press trust of india
Mumbai, April 20: Australia’s captain-in-waiting, Steve Smith, stated Monday that calm demeanour and the repetitive process of getting ready for the on-field battle as mantras for his highly successful run over the last couple of years.
“Probably just my patience and preparations. I am preparing the same way for every game, making sure I am doing the same things over and over with my routines,” Smith stated when asked the secret of his success.
“When I get out in the middle, my first objective is to build an innings, give myself a chance to get in before trying the big shots. That’s probably the secret to my success,” he explained.
Smith was the scourge of India’s bowlers during the Test series and he also got a hundred in the semifinals of the World Cup. He informed that playing the IPL has helped him prepare better.
“We knew what to expect from Indian bowlers. A lot of their bowlers, I have seen quite a bit while playing the IPL. But then it was just one of those things that every time I came up against them I managed to get some runs. It was a good (Australian) summer for me,” Smith said modestly.
The ‘good summer’ fetched the boyish-looking Smith – who also excelled in the subsequent World Cup for champions Australia by logging 402 runs in eight games at a superb average of 67 – a whopping 769 runs at an average of 128.
Smith, however, complimented the Indian side for the fight they put up in the Test series and singled out speedsters Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav as bowlers with potential.
“They (India) are a very good cricket side. They have got some good young bowlers coming through. (Varun) Aaron impressed me with his pace and aggression. (Umesh) Yadav was another one that’s got a lot of potential as well,” said Smith.
The 25-year-old middle-order batsman also credited the IPL for teaching him how to pace an innings. “I enjoy playing any cricket. T20 is great for the game. It has certainly taught me a lot, particularly about pacing my innings when it comes to limited overs forms of the game,” pointed out Smith.
