Sunil Gavaskar Reacts To Steve Smith Challenging Indian Seamers To Bowl Short-Pitched Deliveries
Published - 22 Nov 2020, 07:30 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:37 AM
Sunil Gavaskar has responded to Steve Smith’s comments of no weakness against short-pitched bowling. With India and Australia gearing up to face each other in a high-voltage series of four Test matches, Steve Smith is amongst the few on whom the focus remains. Steve Smith will likely prove as a headache for the tourists, for he averages a daunting 84 against them and could significantly be a thorn in their Border-Gavaskar Trophy defence. While the former Australian captain has denied any weakness against short-pitched delivery, Sunil Gavaskar slightly disagrees with it.
In the past few weeks, Steve Smith has remained reasonably busy in addressing his ability to play short-pitched deliveries, which New Zealand’s Neil Wagner used it to great effect last year. The left-arm seamer consistently unleashed the short-ball or on Smith’s hips, leaving him suffocated and less possibility of playing grounded shots. India might look to do the same this time.
Steve Smith underlined he simply reads the conditions and tries to negate the bowlers, who are trying to dismiss him. The 31-year old understands that Neil Wagner did cause him discomfort with deliveries at head or hip height with excellent speeds. However, he pointed out that bowlers will experience tiredness and takes a lot out of them bowling like it frequently and asserted he does not experience stress against it.
“It’s no dramas for me. I just play the game and sum up the conditions, how they’re trying to get me out and being able to counter that. I mean, a few different oppositions have tried it and they’ve certainly found it more difficult to [execute it] the way Wagner did. He’s got an amazing skill set where his speeds go up and down, everything is between your ribs and your head. If teams are trying to get me out like that it’s probably a big benefit for the team because it takes a lot out of people’s bodies if you continually bowl short. I’ve faced a lot of short bowling in my life and I haven’t had too many stresses with it. I suppose we’ll just wait and see,” Smith said as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
Nobody can say ‘I’m ready : Sunil Gavaskar
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar reacted to Smith’s comments, claiming that no batsman is ever ready for short ball and an excellent one will trouble even the best. Gavaskar added that Mohammed Shami delivers an outstanding bouncer and not too many batsmen could counter it.
“No one is ever ready for the short ball! A good short ball will trouble the best of batsmen. Nobody can say ‘I’m ready’. Mohammed Shami in particular has a fabulous bouncer. If he gets it right on target, then you can be pretty certain that not too any batsmen will be able to negotiate him,” Sunil Gavaskar said as quoted by India Today.
Also Read: Andrew McDonald Denies Short-Pitched Deliveries Being Steve Smith’s Weakness
