In a recent interview, Indian legend and one of the game’s best hitters of all time Cheteshwar Pujara described in broad strokes the unique method that Australian modern-day behemoth Steve Smith used to maintain his unrivalled reign in Test match cricket. During their conversation, Pujara was able to chat with another famous Test batsman.
Even though Smith’s downswing, stance, and overall approach to the bat couldn’t be more different from the normal method of operation, he still manages to keep a batting average above 60 at the Test level, making him one of the rarest of the rare right-handers.
Steve Smith, an important member of the Australian batting lineup who is 33 years old, has amassed 8,647 runs throughout 92 tests with an average of 60.89. He has reached a total of 1,050 runs by scoring 30 hundred and 37 fifty-plus scores. The fact that he has become the best batter in the world when it comes to testing matches is evidence of the commitment and effort that he has put in throughout his career.
In a video feature for ESPNcricinfo, Pujara detailed this strategy in minute detail in advance of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In this competition, the two players would compete against one another to surpass the other and assist their team in winning. It is vital that Pujara, who is perhaps the most notable difference among batters, be featured in a following BGT commercial campaign. This is because Pujara is the most notable difference.
In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Cheteshwar Pujara had this to say about Steve Smith’s batting style: “Steve Smith has a completely different technique compared to other players but he knows how to score runs;”
“He knows his strengths, he knows which bowlers he can target and which are his areas where he scores run.”
According to Pujara, Smith has a distinctive middle and leg-stump guard, from which he moves back and across to the off-stump. While this strategy makes Smith a potential LBW victim, Smith’s excellent hand-eye coordination and reflexes allow him to convert the straight ball into a scoring opportunity on the on-side.
According to Pujara, Smith is very patient and will keep balls outside the off-stump until he gets the bowler to land the ball to his strength, which is the flick and the pull shot. Pujara remarked that the superb player would wait until the ball was short enough to play the cut after observing him rarely drive on the up or do it with great judgement.
He continued, “He is very good on the pull shot and the hook shot.”His hand-eye coordination is very good. Even when he does drive the ball, he makes sure that the line of the ball is closer to him. It’s not that his feet will be in this position (different alignment) and the ball will be there.”