Steve Smith Is On A Different Level: Ben Stokes

Steve Smith has impinged himself as one of the greatest Test batsman of all times. And, its incredible to think of it, considering the former Australian captain was initially picked in the side as a leg-spinner.

Smith made his debut back in 2010 against Pakistan and in the first three years of his career, he was primarily looked upon as a bowler who could bat a bit. The switch happened when he was dropped from the Test team. Post that Smith decided to focus on just one thing: batting.

After scoring a plethora of runs in Sheffield Shield, Smith earned a recall into the Test team and have since the gone on to become the mainstay of the Australian team. Smith averages more than 60 in Test match cricket and was the prime reason behind Australia retaining the Ashes on English soil last summer.

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been Smith’s long-time Ashes rival but he also shares the dressing room with his Australian foe at the Rajasthan Royals. Stokes, in a recent chat with Ish Sodhi, in a videocast arranged by Rajasthan Royals, opened up on his experience of playing with Smith.

“He’s still strange to play against and he’s still strange to play with. But I feel to be a genius you have to be a bit strange and he’s certainly both,” Ben Stokes said.

Also Read: Jos Buttler One Of The Most Versatile, Best ODI Players: Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes on Steve Smith’s penchant for batting

Stokes added that even though Smith is an Australian, sometimes you’ve got to hold your hand up and acknowledge that the latter is on a different level when it comes to batting.

“Even though he plays for Australia, you’ve just got to hold your hands up sometimes to players like that and go, ‘Yeah, you’re on a different level when it comes to batting,’ Stokes added.

“Personally, I could not think about cricket in the way that he does when it comes to batting. I could never be like that. Obviously, he’s on all the time but that’s why he averages 60-plus in Test cricket. That’s not for me but it’s for him. Who is to say who’s right or wrong,” he said.

Ben Stokes and Steve Smith were the spearheads for their respective sides during the last years Ashes series. While Steve Smith’s 700+ runs paved way for Australia’s first-ever Ashes retaining heist on English soil since 2001, Stokes played one of the great innings of recent time when he single-handedly led England to a one-wicket win in Leeds.

Also Read: Steve Smith Reveals That He Was The 12th Or 13th Spinner That Australia Tried After Shane Warne’s Retirement