Australia vs India: Steve Smith One Of The Greatest Batsmen The World Has Seen- Sunil Gavaskar

Indian batting maestro Sunil Gavaskar hailed Australia’s Steve Smith, saying he is one of the greatest batsmen the world has seen.

Gavaskar’s comments came after Smith rectified his earlier mistakes and regained form on Day 1 of the third Test against Australia in Sydney.

Smith had managed just ten runs from his four innings in the first two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He had struggled in particular against premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

But on Thursday (January 7) the batting heavyweight looked positive right at the beginning of his innings and ended with an unbeaten 31 by the close of play. Smith has already struck five boundaries in his stay at the crease.

The Amount Of Runs Steve Smith Has Scored Is Phenomenal: Gavaskar

Gavaskar pointed out Steve Smith’s consistency is rarely compromised despite an unorthodox technique. The right-hand batsman has an unusual trigger movement and tends to stay leg side of the ball a lot. Yet, he is a prolific scorer on all parts of the ground and boasts of a tremendous record.

“You can see that from the body language. He was looking to step down the pitch every time Ashwin gave the ball little bit of air and he was quite happy to play the ball towards the on the side with the turn, he was leaning more into the drive, so more control over the ball and was keeping it along the ground,” Gavaskar told Sony Networks.

“Once he got that mid-wicket boundary he got a lot more confident. He is one of the greatest batsmen the world has seen, different method than you would expect, not quite orthodox but consistency and amount of runs he has scored is phenomenal,” he added.

Inarguably one of the finest modern-day batsmen, Smith has scored 7,268 runs in Test cricket at an average of 61.59, including 26 centuries and 29 fifties.

The right-hander has especially severe on Indian bowlers in the traditional format. He has made 1,470 runs at an average of 73.50 against India with seven tons and three half-centuries.

Smith will be eyeing a big score to set-up the ongoing Test for Australia in Sydney.