Ashes 2017: Mitchell Johnson reveals how England can get rid of Steve Smith

Steve Smith amassed total 426-runs in three Ashes Test.

Mitchell Johnson with Steve Smith | Getty Images

Australian skipper Steve Smith, who is the number batsman in the world with incredible career statistics - 22 centuries in 59 Tests at an average of 60, has been phenomenal with the bat so far in the ongoing Ashes series 2017-18, as the right-hander hammered total 426-runs in three Ashes Test against England.

The 28-year-old star batsman’s dedication and hard work at nets are responsible for his success, as well as the responsibility of Captaincy gives him more focus and stopped him becoming too obsessed that also worked for his batting. On Monday, Smith led his team to Ashes victory by smashing 239-runs at WACA.

Former Australia fast-bowler and Smith’s teammate Mitchell Johnson, on Wednesday, revealed secrete about his success, as well as, shared some tricks how to get Smith’s out, which could prove useful for England bowlers for the coming two Ashes Test – in Melbourne and Sydney.

Johnson wrote in a column for Brisbane Times, “If I had to bowl at him now, I would bowl like I did in the nets – I treated it like a match and bounced the crap out of him. I would also have a go verbally at him, which I'm surprised England did not do here after it worked well for them in Adelaide. In Brisbane, they tried lots of different things at Smith but again not here. In particular, I could not understand why Joe Root didn't put James Anderson on when Smith first went in – and when he did put Anderson on, he had a deep square-leg and a deep cover, giving him easy runs to let him into the game.”

Steve Smith | Getty Images

He further added that England all-rounder Chris Woakes should’ve had bowled more bouncers at Smith to get his wicket, saying, “Chris Woakes could have tried a lot more bouncers at Smith. OK, let him get a few away but remember the square boundaries are really long at the WACA, so often he is not going to get a four (the six he hooked off Stuart Broad went over fine-leg).”

Mitchell concluded by saying, “Apart from bouncing him, I would bowl at Smith on the fourth stump then try to push him wider and wider before going for a yorker behind his legs. The main thing is to get him driving outside off-stump on the front foot, but England were much too short of a length.”

Perhaps former Aussie pacers’ trick can prove to be helpful for the England pacer when they will turn up to play for pride in the next two Ashes Test against current champions, starting on 26 December.

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 20 Dec, 2017

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