Ed Hawkins: Versatile Smith ready to menace England

Ed Hawkins
21 June 2015

Steve Smith is the No.1 batsman in the world

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Our cricket correspondent casts his eye over the top Australia runscorer market for the Ashes and profiles the world's current run machine...

"There were doubts whether a technique which looked vulnerable to the ball nipping off the surface or through the air would hold up in England."

The Australians have arrived. Not that you'd have probably noticed considering their penchant for covering their faces in huge pairs of shades, making them resemble highwaymen darting in to collect the booty.

That description doesn't fit perfectly. They are, after all, in possession of the little urn (metaphorically at least) and they're in Blighty for an eagerly-anticipated Ashes tour which won't be complete until the final one-day international on September 13.

They do cut a mean-looking bunch, though. And England, despite the feelgood factor surrounding their ODI performances against New Zealand, have every right to feel on edge as soon as the serious stuff begins in the first Test at Cardiff on July 8.

Australia have just hammered West Indies with embarrassing ease, the highlight being Michael Clarke's early declaration in the last Test in Jamaica. It displayed huge confidence and exposed the gulf between them and England before a ball has been bowled. England, remember, could only manage a 1-1 draw.

Chief architect of the 2-0 success in the Caribbean was Steve Smith. His 283 runs at an average of 141 saw him top the run charts of the series. And just as he slipped into London this week behind dark glasses, his rise as the best batsman in the world has been similarly clandestine.

Smith's name would not automatically spring to mind if one was asked 'who is the No.1-ranked batsman?'. Kumar Sangakkara, AB De Villiers or Hashim Amla would have been the most likely guesses.

Each of those three were all ahead of Smith before the West Indies series. It was typical that he should approach on the blindside. Just as he was only promoted to No.3 before the Windies tour, Smith seems to have a habit for making a late charge for prominence. He began his career as a No.9 and has batted in each slot to first down since.

Prior to the last Ashes series in England he was, frankly, a gamble for Australia. He was an all-rounder. His batting style was chaotic, all arms and legs. His bowling - legbreaks - was the same. Fast forward two years he is Test cricket's leading run scorer over the past year, with 1,226 runs at 102.16. He is as short as 3.45 to be top Australia runscorer.

Smith had made his Test debut in 2010, against Pakistan at Lord's. He didn't do too badly, taking three wickets at Headquarters and then scoring a half-century at Leeds from No 8. He failed to make the first cut for that year's Ashes series, only appearing in the last three Tests, averaging 31 playing purely as a batsman.

By the time he arrived in England for the 2013 series he had still not achieved anything to suggest he could reach his current high. There were doubts whether a technique which looked vulnerable to the ball nipping off the surface or through the air would hold up in England. This column was aghast that Australia would consider him Test material.

Those fears looked like being realised after three successive failures between the second innings of the first Test and the second innings of game two. With Australia taking a beating, Smith could easily have been lost to the game. But a studious 89 at Old Trafford in a match which Australia would have won but for the weather, and first signalled their resurgence, earned him time. He didn't need long.

He hit an unbeaten 138, his maiden Test century, at The Oval. Eight more have followed including two against England in the 5-0 whitewash as Smith's rise dovetailed with Australia's. His 199 against West Indies in Kingston last time out was his highest score of the lot.

At such skinny odds for honours it is tempting to swerve Smith, who is now vice-captain and certain to replace Michael Clarke as leader - probably after the summer. But he is such a force because of his ability to bat every which way. If he has to drop anchor, he does so. If he needs to attack, he can be as dangerous as the best. Just witness his terrific performances in the World Cup.

Clarke, who averaged 39 in West Indies, is 4.67/2 to see off the coming man. It's not a bad price about a man who averages 46 in England and whose 17 Tests here make him unmatchable in terms of experience. But when you consider that in the past 12 months Clarke has an average of 33 compared to Smith's 102, it could be argued Smith has little to beat.

David Warner, who is 3.814/5, had a lean patch before an explosive return to form in Kingston. His opening partner, Chris Rogers, is a solid 6.05/1 shout but openers rarely outscore their team-mates in English conditions. Only two (Murali Vijay and Tillakaratne Dilshan) have managed it in the last five years.

Shane Watson's accumulation over the last year is no way near good enough, and despite top scoring in England last time he is 7.613/2. The value, therefore, could be with Adam Voges who would be unfortunate to lose his place after starting his Test career so well in West Indies. He is 7.26/1 and has excellent experience of English conditions.

But can he trump Smith?

Ed Hawkins P/L

2015: +£201.50
2014: +315.10
2013: +250.80
To £10 level stakes (unless otherwise stated), based only on available prices. Does not include back-to-lay in-running match advice or commission rate.
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