Root rattled by lbws, says smug Smith
Steve Smith has piled the pressure on to opposite number Joe Root ahead of the second test, suggesting that the england captain’s pair of lbw dismissals at Brisbane could be playing with his head.
Root was trapped leg-before by Pat Cummins for 15 in the first innings at the Gabba, then for 51 by Josh hazlewood in the second — taking to 11 the number of times he has fallen lbw in test cricket in his last 29 innings. Since only seven of Root’s first 83 test knocks ended with a leg-before verdict, Smith was happy to reach a straightforward conclusion.
‘ it was nice that our plans worked,’ he said. ‘i read something on twitter the other day about a trend that’s been occurring with him since the start of 2016. he’s got out lbw a lot.
‘it’s nice that we are able to open up that side of his bat, and i saw him working on it in the nets the other day, so he’s trying to fix those issues.
‘that’s tough to do in the middle of the series, so he’ll have some things going through his head out in the middle. that’s something we can play on out there as well.’
Smith’s breezy diagnosis of a problem that has crept into Root’s game over the last year reflected a buoyant Australian camp.
having won just one lbw decision against him in three previous Ashes series, they regard two in a game as Christmas come early. And their captain sounded equally relaxed about the prospect of Ben Stokes making a surprise appearance later in the series.
‘it doesn’t bother us either way,’ said Smith. ‘it’s not our decision. But he’s another left-hander who Nathan Lyon could bowl to. he’s bowling pretty well and looks like he’s going to get all left-handers out at the moment.’
england regarded Smith’s behaviour as disrespectful at the post-match press conference in Brisbane. As Cameron Bancroft regaled the media with details of Jonny Bairstow’s supposed headbutt, Smith laughed along merrily beside him.
‘i certainly couldn’t hold myself together,’ a nonplussed Smith said. ‘i thought it was hilarious and we’ve moved on. Cameron stated there was no malicious intent or anything in it. he found it more weird than anything. Cameron is pretty blunt and dry, and the way it came across brought out most of the laughter from me. if they want to use it as some kind of motivation, then go for it.’ Australia are in the mood to carry on at Adelaide where they left off at the Gabba, which means more chin music for england’s lower order. ‘ it’s no secret how we’re going to bowl to the tail. i dare say we’re going to continue to bowl a fair few bouncers,’ he said. england have been warned. Now they have to find a way to deal with the
onslaught.