Smith needs a ton to equal Bradman
RUN-SCORING machine Steve Smith is primed to become a batting grand master and match Sir Donald Bradman’s stunning record of four centuries in an Ashes series.
“I’m batting well, I’m feeling really good at the crease,” the Australian skipper said yesterday ahead of the fifth Test against England at the SCG.
Smith could make a pair this Test and still average more than 100 for the series.
“For me it’s just ensuring I don’t get too far ahead of myself. If you walk out there and expect you’re going to get runs the game can bite you pretty quickly,” he said.
“It’s just ensuring I’m hungry each time I go to the middle, start really well, do my basics really well and have my routines that I go through.
“I wasn’t aware (of the Bradman record), that’d be nice and a good way to end the series. It’s been a good one personally for me but also for the team.
“I love batting out here at the SCG. It’s my home ground and I’ve made a few good scores here before, so
hopefully I can continue the run.”
Smith, with 604 runs for the series, sat out a training session this week with back soreness but is adamant it won’t hold him back when he takes the crease.
“It’s stiff, but nothing haven’t dealt with before.”
Mitchell Starc is a confirmed starter for Australia, with Smith backing his big quick to not be significantly hampered by the heel bruising that kept him out of Boxing Day.
Smith is confident the pitch will stay green and suit his fast bowlers, who are ready to feast on England and blow the series result out to 4-0. I
Selectors were agonising over whether to risk Starc with a huge series against South Africa on the horizon but Smith is happy to back the judgment of his spearhead, who is adamant he is ready to go.
“He says he’s ready to go,” Smith said.
Smith admits he’d love to see big scores from Cameron Bancroft and No.3 Usman Khawaja to book their places for the tour of South Africa.
“It’ll be great if they could get a score in this Test match and help us win this Test match,” he said.