Learnt from Kohli, Williamson: Smith
MUMBAI: Australia skipper Steve Smith has said he tries to adapt the batting technique of Virat Kohli and other modern stalwarts like AB de Villiers and Kane Williamson.
“I look at some of the best players around the world and sometimes I do try and bat like them,” Smith told cricket.com.au.
“Little bit of Virat and the way he plays spin, his hands and the way he hits the ball through the off-side. Probably learnt a little bit out of that. I just try and learn. These guys are best players in the world for a reason. You try and get whatever you can out of them.”
Smith has 23 hundreds in Tests but only eight in ODIS. While there can’t really be a comparison between the two, its the longer format where Smith makes his batting look even more graceful. He takes time to settle down and sticks to his unique fidgety footwork throughout, but gets the job done.
Admitting he has modified his batting style over the years, Smith said: “In places like India for instance, I open my hands up a little bit. I don’t feel I can get nicked off (caught behind) quite as easily in India as opposed to somewhere like Australia or South Africa.” He hit a brilliant century on a rank turner in the Pune Test of 2017.
Smith said he has learnt from South Africa’s AB de Villiers and New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson as well. “I’ve copied a bit of what De Villiers does. The way I go back and across to open myself up and set myself for the shots, more so when the ball is reversing. A few years ago I tried to bat like Williamson.”