Steve Smith shared his thoughts on India’s bowling plans against him last summer

Last summer, veteran Australian Test hitter Steve Smith discussed India’s bowling strategy against him. Smith claimed that India’s fast bowling outwitted him in the first two games before scoring a century in the third.

During the four-match Test series, India’s bowlers limited Smith’s run-scoring by bowling tighter lines and denying him width. To keep Smith from settling in at the crease, the visiting captain used crowded leg-side fields.

Steve Smith told cricket.com.au that India’s tactics didn’t surprise him, and that the visitors were successful in drying the runs off his bat.

“I wasn’t too surprised with the way India came at me last summer. It was more about just trying to stop me scoring for a lot of the time – they were just trying to ‘out-patient’ me. In a way and I think they probably got the better of me in the first couple of Tests. Then I got going in Sydney, where I actually started to bat a bit better as well.” he said

Smith, who is placed second in the Test batting rankings, was unable to live up to his lofty expectations. As Australia lost the series at home. In four Tests, the New South Wales hitter averaged 44.71 and scored 313 runs.

Ashes series

After modifying his batting approach somewhat, Smith feels confident in dealing with England’s bowling attack in the next Ashes series. As bowlers devise new strategies against him, he seeks to adapt and improve.

“I think I’ve got my game pretty well set now, and then I think there’s just minor tweaks that need to come in place depending on who I’m playing against, where I’m playing and what’s coming at me,” said Smith.

In each of the last two Ashes series, the former Australian captain has been a thorn in England’s side, scoring the most runs for both sides.

Read more: India vs New Zealand: Simon Doull says “He can’t just be a boundary hitter”

Visit also: Ashes 2021: Steve Smith says “If not the best in the world, he’s up there with it”

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