Australian Test vice-captain Steve Smith was surprised with England pacer Stuart Broad not playing a bigger part in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22.
England poor’s campaign has seen them getting skewered by many fans and pundits. While some criticised them for their performance, many lashed out at them for their selection process.
Premier pacer Stuart Broad hasn’t been a regular feature in England’s playing XI in the first three matches of the five-Test series. The right-arm pacer was rested in the first Test in Gabba.
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After that he returned to the team for pink-ball Test in Adelaide and bowled well, taking 2 wickets in the match. But he was again left out from the playing XI in the recently concluded third Test at MCG as Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series to retain the Ashes.
Speaking ahead of the fourth Test of Ashes 2021-22 at SCG, Australian batter Steve Smith said that they were surprised that English pacer Stuart Broad hasn’t played a bigger part in the series so far. He mentioned that whenever he plays against him it’s a decent battle between them.
“We have been a bit surprised. He bowled well in Adelaide. He's always been a good contest for me. He's got me out quite a few times, I've scored some runs off him so it's been a decent battle,” he said.
Steve Smith lauded James Anderson and Stuart Broad as the two world-class performers and said that it's likely that the duo can play together at SCG.
“(Broad) and Jimmy (Anderson) together are two world-class performers, they have been for a long time. Maybe we'll see them out here together this week, I'm not sure,” he said.
Steve Smith further admitted that it’s been a while since he scored Test match century. He said they played on bowler-friendly wickets in the first three Tests and it was tough to get into the groove and rhythm.
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He added that he’ll try to spend more time in the middle in SCG Test and will look to score big and help this team to have success.
"It's been a little while since I've scored a hundred but I got close in Adelaide. I think we've played on some bowler-friendly wickets in the first three Tests.
“They haven't been huge scoring games so it's been tough to get rhythm and get into a groove, but hopefully this week I spend a lot of time out there and score a big one and help us continue to have success as a team,” he concluded.
The fourth Test of Ashes 2021-22 will take place on 5th January at SCG. While the fifth and final Test match, a day-night affair, will take place on 14th January at Hobart.
(Reuters inputs)
