How best is Steve Smith?

Called as one of the young Fab Four of Test Cricket along with Joe root, Virat and Kane Williamson by Martin Crowe ; introduced to the cricketing World as a right arm leg spin bowler-all rounder, Smith is today one of the top most batters in the cricket community. Steve Smith has got that knack, although his ODI record is incomparable to Kohli’s, as is everyone else’s. Where Smith stands out is with his output in Test cricket. Amongst his contemporaries, he is peerless.99.94 is a statistic that every cricket fan knows (it’s Sir Don Bradman’s Test average), and it’s a career average that appears impossible to beat in the modern game. It’s impossible to evaluate Smith without discussing Bradman. It was a source of contention when Lawrence Booth wrote in the 2018 issue of Wisden that Smith is “the best Test batsman since Bradman.” It is now a proven reality. Smith’s 61.8 Test average from 77 Tests is second best among players who have played at least 20 Tests. Only one player has more century than Smith , who has played fewer than 80 Tests.
Now to ponder over how far can Steve Smith go?

The answer is obvious. His challenge, really, is maintaining his form. He scored his first Test century at the Oval in 2013 and has added 26 since. He lost a year of his career to suspension , the ball tampering affair , so is averaging five centuries a year, or could be more than 5 an year without the break that transpired in his career. The comeback match in the Ashes , facing England’s finest pacer, Jofra Archer getting hurt on the field, never stopped Steve Smith to ace his Test Career more powerful than ever.

The ball tampering scandal (2018), made a colossal change that reframed cricket Australia into a fragile object, which reflected in the forthcame series that Australia faced , captained by Tim paine to the best side where Steve Smith manifested utmost potential in his arrival to the early career in Test cricket. Tear , lies and Sandpaper; that was the time when Australian cricket fell apart, ensued in the suspension of Steve Smith, David Warner and Darren Lehmann.

However, the bans felt disproportionate, severe enough to appease the mob — and their sponsors — even though this was a minority viewpoint in the ensuing uproar. Smith and Warner also lost their Indian Premier League jobs, as well as a lot of money, and Bancroft was no longer needed by Somerset, a missed opportunity. Because Bancroft, the junior man, had been used, there was sympathy for him. Then Smith broke down at Sydney airport, tears streaming down his cheeks and the misery etched on his face, a scene that supposedly caused a red-eyed Lehmann to intervene.

Counting back, two years ago, Steve Smith made a stunning return to the longest format of the game after the ball tampering scandal. After serving a one-year ban for his role in the ball-tampering fiasco against South Africa in 2018, Smith was set to return to Test cricket. On his return to Test cricket, the right-handed batsman scored a century in the first Ashes Test against England at Birmingham.

Smith arrived at the crease with Australia at 17/2 in the first innings, and the team was in trouble. The visitors were subsequently reduced to 122/8, and Smith was faced with a mammoth task.

The 2nd SpecSavers Ashes Test, Day Four ,witnessed Jofra Archer’s duel with Steve Smith , a blend of elation and fright.

Smith didn’t survive long after his return, but the picture of his brazenly unconventional swat for four off Chris Woakes’ second delivery will stick with him almost as long as the sight of his figure laying on the ground. The manner he exited shortly after, leaving a straight ball, was a clearer indication of muddled thinking than any of his earlier responses to his team doctor’s questioning.

Smith, without question, is the finest Test batsman of this era.

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