Rashid Latif Feels Pitch Factor is Affecting Steve Smith, Virat Kohli's Century Drought in Tests

Published - 22 Mar 2022, 05:31 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:06 AM

Rashid Latif. Image source- 24newshd.tv

Former Pakistani skipper Rashid Latif feels that the pitch conditions are affecting Virat Kohli and Steve Smith’s performance in Tests. Rashid Latif feels that both the players have got easy pitches to play on their home soil.

Steve Smith and Virat Kohli have failed to come up with a century in the longer format since 2019. Steve Smith last slammed a century in 2019- a 211 score in The Ashes 2019. Virat Kohli last hit a century in November 2019 during a pink-ball Test in Bangladesh.

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Virat Kohli and Steve Smith (Image Credit: Twitter)

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I Feel They Have Got a Lot Many Easy Pitches There: Rashid Latif

While speaking on the YouTube show Caught Behind, former Pakistani player Rashid Latif said that Steve Smith and Virat Kohli need places and conditions to play better.

“I feel they have got a lot many easy pitches there (home). They are those kinds of players who need places and conditions. Look at Steve Smith, the two boundaries he hit were worth watching..so that is the kind of field placements he needed – no cover or mid-wicket or the area in front of him remains vacant. And once he starts scoring runs, fielders are placed according and he gets bogged down,” Rashid Latif said.

Latif also pointed out that Steve Smith would have got the century in the ongoing series against Pakistan, but he got 25-30 runs short due to the pitch conditions.

“Fact is there is a lot of pressure here and he is actually playing better here than he was during the Ashes. I think pitch were are affecting his run-scoring, reducing it by 25-30 runs which adds to his century-less streak for every innings.

“He should have gotten a century. For Virat Kohli as well, the pitch factor is there again. But it will come and once it starts you just begin counting,” Latif added.

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During ongoing Pakistan vs Australia Test series, the quality of pitch has become the talk of the town. Many experts have criticized the quality of pitches used in the two Tests so far. Teams have failed to grab wickets and have also slammed mammoth totals on the board.

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Pakistan vs Australia Rashid Latif Steve Smith Virat Kohli