Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh said he expects his teammate and one of the world's best batsmen, Steve Smith, to not be afraid of any bouncer barrage from English pacers and instead relish the mode of attack on his return to the outfit for the second ODI in Manchester on Sunday (September 13).
In order to restrict Smith's scoring and dismiss him quickly, England bowlers might target the man's body with short pitch deliveries as he takes the field after overcoming a hit on his head while facing throw-downs in the nets against a member of the coaching staff before the first one-dayer.
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Smith was rested for the match, which the visitors eventually won by 19 runs, as a precautionary measure despite passing an immediate concussion test. A spokesman for the Australians confirmed that he had come through another such check on Saturday and is available for selection.
"It gives us great confidence and probably gives our selectors a few headaches now because the top-order struck them beautifully without getting big scores," Marsh told a conference call on the eve of the match. "Any time you have Steve Smith coming back into the team is a great feeling."
Smith had even last year gone down with a blow to his head off a bouncer from Jofra Archer at Lord's during the Ashes 2019. The right-hander was ruled out of the next encounter but batted brilliantly on comeback in a series where his overall run tally stood at 774 runs, including three hundreds.
Archer will be there in the second ODI too when England eye a series-levelling victory.
Marsh said he is confident Smith will ask the Aussie pacers to go as intense and quick at him in the nets as possible in preparation for the Archer face-off.
"The Steve Smith I know will probably ask guys to bump (bounce) the hell out of him, he loves the contest," said Marsh. "Anyone that bowls 150 kph (93 mph), he loves the challenge so certainly there will be no backing down from Steve Smith, I know that 100 percent for sure."
Marsh, whose brilliant fifty and partnership with fellow half-centurion Glenn Maxwell were key to Australia's recovery from 123/5 to 294/9, also showered words of praise on pacer Josh Hazlewood.
Hazlewood's opening burst left England struggling so much that even admirable efforts from centurion Sam Billings and Jonny Bairstow couldn't take the team through.
"It was absolute class bowling from Josh Hazlewood, and Starcy and Pat in the first 10 overs. Josh's length was borderline unplayable," Marsh said.
"I was at first slip for most of it and was talking to (wicketkeeper) Alex Carey and (captain) Aaron Finch that it was just beautiful bowling."
Marsh said the Australians are wary of the wounded three lions going into the second ODI.
"They are the No 1 team for a reason, they bat deep and always come at you so we'll have to be ready for that and make sure we are up for the fight tomorrow," he signed off.
(Inputs from AFP)
