Steve Smith just loves batting in Test cricket more so against his favourite opponents India. Former Australia batsman Matthew Hayden believes that Smith will be extra determined in the Test series against India after he missed the 2018-19 series. So far in his career Smith has scored 7 Test centuries against India in 8 matches and will be again eyeing a big series against them.
Matthew Hayden says India should be careful of ‘wounded warrior’ Steve Smith
Hyden was informed team India of ‘wounded warrior’ Smith ahead of the Test series. The former cricketer praised Smith for his stats against India in Test matches and expects him to again have a brilliant series with the bat. Hayden added India needs to be careful of Smith who has already smashed 2 hundred against India in the tour so far.
Smith slammed 2 match-winning tons in the ODI series and helped his side win it by 2-1. Now the legendary Australian batsman will shift focus towards his favourite format in which he has scored more than 7000 runs at an average of over 62. Hayden asserted that Smith will be extremely hungry to score runs and if India doesn’t plan against him he will again have a triumphant series.
“Steve Smith loves playing against India. He has almost scored 1500 runs at just sub a 100 average. He has had plenty of success against India”, Matthew Hayden said on Star Sports show ‘Game Plan’.
“He will be a little dirty as well that he wasn’t involved in the 2018-19 series where India did get up. That was a big loss for Australia and a big loss for him in person as well because in the 2014-15 series he had a huge average of 128 for something like that and 700-plus runs. So, he was a major contributor to that series. Sometimes, the wounded warrior is someone you need to be careful of”, he said.
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“We have already seen Smith come out in the ODI series and start to look to dominate India. He has got a couple of hundreds already. He has looked dangerous in that format of the game. And he will be hungry, a bit like Virat, there is no end to the size of their stomach when they start consuming runs. They just love it”, Hayden said.
Meanwhile, yesterday during the practice session Smith complaint about back soreness and left the field. Fortunately for Australia Smith returned to practice today and batted with intent today ahead of the first Test match. The first day and night test between Australia and India is all set to begin tomorrow at the Adelaide Oval.
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