Andrew McDonald Backs Steve Smith To Bounce Back Amid Challenges In New Opener Role During 1st Test vs WI

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald backed Steve Smith to bounce back after struggling in his new role as a Test opener. Andrew McDonald expressed confidence that Steve Smith would perform better in the next Test, having gained experience against the bowlers.

Steve Smith replaced David Warner at the top of the order in Australia’s 10-wicket victory against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval. However, the veteran batter failed to make an impact in the first innings, as he was dismissed for 12 runs off debutant Shamar Joseph.

Shamar Joseph entered the attack in the ninth over, delivering an excellent ball outside the off-stump. Steve Smith played a defensive shot, resulting in a thick outside edge caught by Justin Greaves at third slip. Australia lost their first wicket for just 25 runs on the board.

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Sight Unseen Is Always Difficult For Batters – Andrew McDonald

Andrew McDonald acknowledged the challenge of facing a bowler like Shamar Joseph for the first time, emphasizing the difficulty of reading an unfamiliar bowler’s rhythm.

“There’s an element in particular with (facing) Joseph… sight unseen is always difficult for batters, when you haven’t seen someone and gotten used to their rhythm and the cues they present,” McDonald was quoted as saying to the reporters.

Steve Smith scored 11 runs off 22 balls, including two boundaries, in Australia’s second innings. The 35-year-old remained unbeaten in Australia’s run chase in the series opener. Notably, he failed to score big in the recent Test series against Pakistan last month.

I Think Will Iron Themselves Out – Andrew McDonald

Andrew McDonald acknowledged that some players were drawn into shots due to their unfamiliarity with the West Indies bowlers. McDonald stated that players would perform better with a better understanding of the opposition after the first Test.

“Sometimes you do get drawn into shots that potentially you don’t play. We saw that with Marnus as well – I think it was maybe his second bouncer, he probably didn’t have the cues and it rushed him a little bit and brought about his demise,” he stated.

“We feel as though now that there’s less unknowns going into the second Test match, we’ve had a good look at them, a lot of those little decision-making errors that may have crept in I think will iron themselves out,” McDonald added.

Australia bundled out the West Indies for 188 runs, with Hazlewood and Cummins claiming four wickets each. In response, the home team managed to score 283 runs in their first innings, with Travis Head smashing a brilliant century, scoring 119 runs off 134 deliveries.

Shamar Joseph dismissed Steve Smith with his first ball in international cricket. Joseph achieved a five-wicket haul in his debut Test match. Josh Hazlewood also played a key role in the second innings, taking five wickets for 35 runs to bowl out the visiting team for 120 runs.

Also read: AUS vs WI: “Never Seen Him…” – Pat Cummins Makes Massive Revelation About ‘Re-Energized’ Steve Smith