Star Australia batsman Steve Smith is focusing on adapting to the bouncy conditions at the Gabba, as he is gearing up to back his dangerous best form in the red-ball game ahead of the series opener of the two-match Test series against Pakistan on Thursday, November 21, in Brisbane.
The right-hander was in sublime form with the bat in the successful Ashes 2019 campaign, as he ended up with 774 runs at an impeccable average of 110.57, but he couldn’t carry his dangerous form to home summer, as he managed just 0 and 21 in the comeback match in the Sheffield Shield.
However, Smith managed to get back his form, as he later went on to score a couple of tons against Tasmania and Western Australia on the slower tracks of Sydney.
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Despite having a great record at the Gabba, where he has scored 575 runs in 9 innings at an impressive average of 71.88 with three centuries and one half-century, the World No 1 Test batsman is keen on having rigorous training sessions in Brisbane for the Pakistan Test.
Smith told cricket.com.au, “I'm feeling good. I probably just have to try and get used to the bounce of the wicket again at the Gabba. It's probably a little bit different to the last two Shield games I've played at Drummoyne and SCG, where they've been pretty benign wickets.”
The 30-year-old continued, “I just found it hard scoring. There was no slip, there was a ring field, the square was pretty dead, and the wicket was pretty dead. There were a couple of times I hit and got it in the gap and thought 'that's runs.
So I couldn't get them away, but it's nice to spend some time in the middle all the same. For me, the next few days is about getting used to the bounce at the Gabba and practicing leaving (the ball) well, and just being patient again. I'm sure I'll get plenty of that work in, and be good to go on Thursday.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan is also ready to play the hosts with their new-look pace battery including Mohammad Abbas – who is well known for control and seam movement, and young and fast-bowling trio of Shaheen Afridi, Muhammad Musa and Naseem Shah.
However, former Australian skipper was not worried about taking the fresh Pakistani attack in the upcoming Test series – which is part of ongoing ICC World Test Championship.
Smith signed off by saying, “I've never faced Abbas he stands the seam up, any sort of movement he'll get the most out of it. And it looks like Shah bowls with some good pace. Being as young as he is, he probably hasn't bowled lots of overs consistently so it'll be about making him come back and bowl as many spells as he can and see if he can maintain it.”
(With cricket.com.au Inputs)
