The Ashes 2017/18: Steve Smith Has Gone To Another Level, Says Darren Lehmann
Australia head coach Darren Lehmann has said the way Steve Smith is batting at the moment; he can surpass the records set by his illustrious compatriots Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke.
Smith, who has been sitting at the top of the ICC Test rankings for batsmen for the last two years, has been batting phenomenally in the ongoing Ashes. The right-handed batsman is leading the run-scoring charts by a good margin, having scored 426 runs in three Tests at a stunning average of 142, including a career-best 239 in the Perth Test.
“By the end it might be a bit different, but Pup and Ricky Ponting at times were exceptional captains and exceptional batters, when they were leading the team. Statistically, you only see that at the end I suppose, but the way he’s gone about it, averaging 72 or 73 as a Test captain, that’s pretty special. For him to keep delivering what he needs to do is exceptional under the pressure he’s under in Ashes series,” the former Australia allrounder said.
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Lehmann further expressed his delight over the Australia skipper evolution as a batsman. Smith began his career as a leg-spinning all-rounder and was not even a guaranteed name in the playing name. However, things changed completely since he scored his first hundred at the Oval four years ago. Since then, he has scored 22 hundreds which is most by any player during this period.
Smith’s batting average of 62.32 is second only to the legendary Don Bradman regarding batsmen with at least 20 Test innings. In the latest Test rankings, Smith took his tally to 945 points, which is the joint-second best rating in the history of the game. The Australia star is now level with England legend Len Hutton and trails Bradman’s all-time leading tally by just 16 points.
“So for me, seeing him evolve from that first Test hundred at the Oval to now – he just changes his own plans to what the bowlers are doing and what the wicket’s doing, and what the game needs. He’s gone to another level, which is pleasing,” Lehmann said.
The coach also lavished praise on Mitchell Marsh who too played a big role in the Perth Test. The all-rounder, who was making his comeback in the game, scored a career-best 181 and added 301 runs with Smith to put the hosts firmly in the driver’s seat.
“But Mitchell went back to refine his game a little bit, worked with some different people, and just looked like he enjoyed himself out there… the way Mitchell played was exceptional and really drove us to that total,” he said.
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At the same time, Lehmann also had a word of advise for Marsh as he said:
“One innings doesn’t make a cricket career. For him he’s got to back that up next game and do the right thing and continue to make runs. I thought his bowling was a little bit disappointing, which he spoke about with me the other day. He’s got to get his bowling right, his fielding right and his batting and if it all comes together that’s fantastic.”
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