Bury old England
STEVE Smith is mowing down records like a trained assassin, but what he really wants is a prize which has painfully eluded his two predecessors.
Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke failed to win an Ashes series in England as captain, and breaking Australian cricket’s most alarming drought is the motivation that will now drive the singleminded Smith.
The skipper’s extraordinary personal achievement of scoring three tons in India this year almost clinched Australia the equally elusive Border- Gavaskar Trophy, and he will believe his Bradmanesque surge up the charts can help conquer the Holy Grail of Ashes glory on UK soil in 2019.
“Pup ( Michael Clarke) and Ricky Ponting were exceptional captains and exceptional batters when they were leading the team,” Australian coach Darren Lehmann said.
“Statistically you only see that at the end ( of careers) … but the way Steve’s gone about it averaging 73 as 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 an Ashes series.
“He’s just gone to another level.”
Since taking over from Clarke as captain, Smith’s dressing room has resembled a revolving door, with 33 players coming in and out of his team in his 29 matches as leader.
It’s close to an unprecedented level of turnover that almost doubles the number of players Steve Waugh used in his tenure and illustrates why Smith’s run- scoring feats are even more remarkable in an environment where there’s been such uncertainty and change.
After nailing the selections of Tim Paine, Cameron Bancroft and Shaun and Mitchell Marsh, Lehmann believes Smith may finally have a side that can virtually stay together for the assault on the 2019 Ashes away.
“I’m pretty sure they can hang together this group. They are young enough to play for a few years together,” he said. “This group can hang together for the next 12 to 18 months and we’ve got to always e v o l v e and get better at how we play and who we select and see where we go. You’re always learning lessons, whether it’s home or away. As a coach, a player you’re always learning. “England has some good young players. We’ve managed to put them under pressure at the right times and hopefully that continues for the next two Test matches. “But some of those players will be involved in the next Ashes series, so we’ve got to make sure we keep evolving our plans and being better.” Smith has repeatedly stated that his two big goals as captain are to win in India and England. On the past three tours of England, Australia have struggled to handle conditions when they are green and seaming. Now Australia has intro- duced English Dukes balls for the second half of the Sheffield Shield season to help batsmen adapt.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said Smith’s men looked set to have their best crack at breaking an 18- year drought.
“I hope England do not go for the short- term fix of playing on juicy pitches at home,” Vaughan wrote for the UK Telegraph.
“Win well on good surfaces. If you look at Australia they have a team which will be just the right age to win the Ashes in England in 2019, something they have not done for 18 years.
“They have three quicks who will be around for another three or four years.
“Mitchell Marsh has always had the talent as an allrounder. This innings ( in Perth) might be the making of him. The spinner, Nathan Lyon, is not going to disappear just yet.”