Australia's Steve Smith Struggles to Shake Off Slump as India Series Heats Up
Australia captain Pat Cummins has refused to write off his struggling batsman, Steve Smith, insisting that a big score is just around the corner, despite Smith's continued slump in performances. The 36-year-old batsman has averaged 23.20 in 2024, with his lowest score in the series against India being just 8. However, those close to him, including Cummins, remain confident that Smith is ready to break out of his current form dip.
Smith's struggles have been particularly pronounced against fuller deliveries, with 8 lbw dismissals in the last 2 years sparking criticism of his technique. Despite this, he remains close to breaking Rahul Dravid's record of 13,441 Test runs, and with 9,704 runs in 198 Test matches and 195 innings, he is the sixth batsman to reach 9,000 Test runs. Some notable batsmen who have achieved the milestone include Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Younis Khan, and Mahela Jayawardene, all of whom are icons of the game.
Meanwhile, Australia captain Pat Cummins has refused to get caught up in debates about the case being Australia's stronghold or fortress, stating that the scoreboard starts at 0-0. He also acknowledged that the pressure of playing Test cricket is intense, and that both he and his teammate Josh Hazlewood have received criticism. Hazlewood has been chosen to replace Scott Boland in the playing eleven for the third Test, and Cummins is confident in his abilities. Hazlewood has been in good form, and Cummins has praised the rest of his bowling team for having a plan to replicate the short-ball tactic that worked so effectively in Adelaide.
As Australia looks to bounce back in the series against India, Smith's revival will be closely watched by cricket fans around the world. Will he break through and match Dravid's impressive record? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the Australian captain and his team are determined to put in a strong performance and give themselves every chance of success.
