Published: Sep 13, 2015, 08:47 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 13, 2015, 11:04 PM (IST)
Former Australia batting legend Steve Waugh feels that Steven Smith’s hunger for runs is similar to that of Sachin Tendulkar. According to Waugh, Smith is an incredible talent and his performance over the years has improved. He added that Smith needs to work even harder if he wants to enter the league of the top 20 greatest batsmen to have played the game. Talking of Smith, he has already scored 11 centuries in 33 Test matches he has played at an amazing average of 56.27; his ODI record is also good. Waugh feels Smith is doing well playing one-down for Australia. Sachin Tendulkar, Ajinkya Rahane have similar batting techniques: Steve Waugh
In a conversation with ESPNcricinfo he said, “I don’t mind him [Steven Smith] batting at number three. He is improving all the time. His last year has been quite phenomenal. His technique will tighten up a bit. But, he has got a great eye and he has got good placement of the ball. Never seen a batsman hit the gaps as well as he does. He has got really good hands and that compensates perhaps for his footwork not being as sharp as some of the other players. He is not technically a perfect player, but he has got that inner desire more to score runs, a bit like a Tendulkar. Once he gets a hundred he wants to go on and get a big score every time.” Steve Waugh: Modern cricketers should be able to perform in any conditions
“I think he’s pretty much an aggressive batsman with a good mindset. I think he takes it into the captaincy as well. He loves batting, he loves scoring runs and the other guys they like his leadership, they follow what he is doing… Allan Border was a leader by what he did on the field; he led by example. Mark Taylor was more of a talker. I guess I was a pretty aggressive captain. We tried to win at all costs. And then you have got Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting. But he [Smith] has got to do it his way. He can’t copy what I’ve done or what Mark Taylor has done or Ricky Ponting. He has got to find out what his style is.”
