CricketSteve Smith Intimidated By England’s New Bazball Policy, Questions Its Sustainability
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England’s remarkable performances against New Zealand and India have attempted to change the course of Test cricket. Certainly many teams will be watching this new away game prepare to tackle it. Now Steve Smith, one of Australia’s finest Test players, has taken his stand on the way England has played the new game.

Speaking to the media in Galle, Smith made his comments on this. He is not seen as a fan of it, but he has kept an eye on the events happening in England. There is certainly a charm about England’s new approach to playing Test cricket, where they have chased 250 totals in the fourth innings of four consecutive matches, capped by their record of 378 for 3 at Edgbaston and which He maintained a run rate of 4.60 per over in four matches.

A familiar topic that has been going on for a long time now, they may continue to do so, although the question was also raised during matches in New Zealand and India – involving bowlers of the caliber of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Were – and how would it adapt to different circumstances.

“I’ve watched it a little bit, it’s definitely been entertaining,” said Steve Smith. “Even someone like Alex Lees started to come down the wicket when he was on nothing. It’s been exciting. I’m just intrigued to see how long it lasts, if it’s sustainable.”

“If you come to a wicket that has some grass and Josh Hazlewood, [Pat] Cummins and [Mitchell] Starc are bowling to you, will it be the same? We’ll see what happens. Keeping an interest in it, we’ll see what happens.”

Steve Smith also noted how Australia has moved up the scoring rate in some recent matches, citing the Hobart Ashes Test, where they batted with four runs per over in the first innings, and the first in Galle. Tests where he scored 4.53, though England’s run chase has taken things to a whole new level in the past few weeks.

“The pink ball game in Hobart, when Head and Marnus started to lead the game, the wicket was doing very well, so it was kind of a retribution, to put some pressure on the bowler’s mindset, and it was that opportunity. But it worked,” he said. “Is it going to work every time? I don’t know.”

England’s next rivals, South Africa, are talking of a good game ahead of the Test series in August, where they will be able to select a pace attack including Kagiso Rabada, Enrique Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Duane Olivier and the giant Marco Jensen .

“I think the big challenge in playing this way is that you’re not going to be consistent,” Rassie van der Dussen told to media. “If we come out with a good bowling performance or it doesn’t go well for them, there will be some question marks if they get out cheaply in the first innings, or people hitting the ball straight or playing loose will be caught.

“They are challenges for them, we have plans, we know what has worked for us. They are coming in with a slightly different mindset and strategy, which has worked well for them. Let’s see what they do against our bowlers. Let’s do that.”