Century off 62 balls in two consecutive matches.
Just incredible. But it's not just about numbers. The point is, numbers are born. Or is coming.
Steven Smith's run tide, unconventional technique, cricket grammar thumbs up to create his own genre,
all these have been practiced for years. There has been a lot of cutting in the laboratory of the analysts
of the opposition parties. There is little way to stop him. Probably a factor as to why they're doing so poorly.
An excellent example was seen today in the analysis of TV commentators. Breaking a shot from Smith, they showed
he was shuffling, the backlift coming from almost abusive (which is not ideal at all), but when looking at the bat
with the ball, at that moment the bat is straight, head still, elbow and body positions are almost perfect,
The balance is smooth and intact.
There was also a shot in the first ODI… the ball was just outside the off stump, Smith's backlift was coming down
as usual from the abuse, how is it possible to play with points from that place!! Smith hit four just past the point
in Square Drive. Because, no matter how shuffled, no matter where the bat is coming from, it's going to be in the
right position at the right time.
This is why Smith is unique. His restless walk at the crease, strange backlift, shuffle, lots of movement,
seemingly out of balance, all these are his own. But in the final and most important moment of shot making,
there are three very focused cricket book students and devoted followers… as I have written above, at the same
time a wonderful combination of obedience and breaking the norm.
This is where Smith is unique, which is why it's hard for opponents to plan for him.
This is also a great message. Happy for those of us who worship the originality of cricket. No matter what you do,
no matter how innovative you are, everything has to be done in the shelter of originality. If you succeed in the
pursuit of originality, then the main shield of security is certain, then you can break yourself as you wish.
That break is also a matter of pursuit.
Many may be surprised that Sehwag was dragged into Smith's context. But I like to think of the two very side by side.
Sehwag's genre is different, philosophy is different. But the two have a great match in one place. Mental strength.
In this way, it is impossible to have the mental strength to run the chariot in the opposite direction of the
conventional way. Just as Sehwag has not changed his ways, Smith has moved forward, overcoming many thorns of
skepticism, even as a John Wright collar is pressed, and analysts around the world are sitting on the knife
of skepticism.
(We are talking about Soumya-Liton… their technique-temperament is better. But this mental strength is most needed.
Self-confidence. Of course I have written it before, I have said it. And yes, I am listening, I am not comparing
them I just said one point, by the way)
Hand-eye coordination was the key to Sehwag's mental strength as well as batting. This is also very
important for Smith. As well as the co-ordination of the hand and the mind, the co-ordination of the
hand and the body (the distance between these is very subtle and in one case all the limbs are involved)
is important for him. The more restless he seems at the crease, the more attentive he actually is.
He always expresses himself in this way. If you can't play a shot properly, if you don't like it,
make an expression that is all over! It is important for him to focus on being so ‘expressive’,
to focus on the next ball. He can do that extraordinarily. This is where I talked about the co-ordinations.
His head, body, hands all move automatically. The process is fine.
Rhythm is very important for him. If you see him, you will understand that even though he gets a lot of runs,
he does not have a familiar face. Because he doesn't have his own rhythm. Even if he doesn't get a run many times,
it is understood in batting that he is in rhythm. As in this IPL, there was no rhythm. He got runs in some matches.
But it seemed that he was not getting relief. What a thing!
A few days ago, he suddenly found that 'missing' thing during a training session in Australia before the India series.
Then he told the coach, in the tone of the announcement, everyone said, he has found the desired one, he has found that
'hand'. So your rhythm is back. How far back India have come is clear in the first two ODIs of the series.
Failure to pull ahead can also come. That is not unusual in the rules of cricket. But this process, this genre,
this individuality, these are unique.
In the last series of the duo, Neil Wagner overcame him as a body-shorting. Wagner is making the world suffer with
this same plan. The main reason is that the speed and height of his bouncers change and he keeps on doing one thing
after another like a machine, he also does long spells. I'm sure Smith will find Wagner next time ...
There is probably a better batsman than Smith now, who will definitely come in the future. But I'm not sure
if anyone like him will ever come.
It's hard to explain him. His batting is easy to enjoy. I think we're lucky to see someone like that live.
We do the simple thing, drink Smith-sudha, as long as we can… !!!
All day score card (29/11/20) International
India's tour of Australia 2020/21
Australia VS India (2nd ODI)
Result: Australia won by 51 runs
Australia won the series 2-0 with 1 match in hand
Australia - 379/4 (50)
Steve Smith - 104 (64) Four - 14 Sixes - 2, David Warner - 63 (6) Four - 7 Sixes - 3,
Labussain - 60 (61) Four-5, Aaron Finch - 60 (69) Four-6 Sixes-1,
Maxwell - 63 * (29) Four - 4 Sixes - 4, Moises Henriques - 2 * (1),
Hardik Pandya - 1/24, Md. Sami - 1/73, Bumrah - 1/69 1 Maiden,
Agarwal - 0/10, Jadeja - 0/60, Saini - 0/60, Chahal - 0/61
India - 338/9 (50)
Kohli - 89 (87) four-7 sixes-2, Lokesh Rahul - 76 (66) four-4 sixes-5
Shreyas Iyer - 36 (38) four-5, Dhawan - 30 (23) four-5,
Hardik Pandya - 28 (31) four-1 six-1, Mayank Agarwal - 28 (26) four-4,
Jadeja - 24 (11) Four - 1 Six - 2, Saini - 10 * (10) Four - 1,
Chahal - 4 * (6), Sami - 1 (4), Bumrah - 0 (2),
Pat Cummins - 3/67, Hazelwood - 2/59, Jumpa - 2/62,
Henriques - 1/34, Maxwell - 1/34, Stark - 0/62,
Man of the Match - Steve Smith - 104 (64) Four - 14 Sixes - 2
Warner dropped out, Cummins at rest
The severity of the injury was estimated when David Warner left the field with his teammates on his shoulders.
Australia's fears came true in the scan report. Warner missed the last match of the ODI series against India
and the T20 series. Pat Cummins has been rested for these matches as well.
Warner suffered a groin injury while fielding in the second match of the ODI series in Sydney on Sunday.
Another left-handed Darcy Short has been included in the team as his replacement. In the last ODI, however,
Matthew Wade is more likely to replace Warner in the XI.
Cummins has been rested for the Test series to refresh him. The fast bowler was involved in a limited overs
series in England and a drawn game in the IPL before the current series. He has not been replaced.