As the Australian squad prepares for a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka, which will be swiftly followed by the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, the squad has been strengthened by news that Steve Smith’s elbow injury is not as bad as first feared.
Australia’s batting mainstay Steve Smith, who fell one short of the elusive 10,000-run mark in Test cricket during the Border-Gavaskar series, described the milestone as a “different beast” while revealing that the pressure of nearing the landmark affected him significantly during the fifth and final Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin on Friday compared wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant at par with England’s Joe Root and Australia’s Steve Smith as the best batters in the last seven years, when batting has become “significantly difficult and averages have decreased.”
Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has backed Steve Smith as the opener as the clock ticks down to India’s tour Down Under for the gruelling five-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year.
Smith has been a rock in Australia’s middle-order for more than a decade, but was moved up to an unfamiliar role at the top alongside Usman Khawaja.
Sachin Tendulkar also termed Marnus Labuschagne as special on the sidelines of Bushfire Cricket Bash where he will be coaching Ponting XI.
In the ICC Test rankings, Smith is currently the number two ranked batsman while Labuschagne is at the third place.
Smith made an unbeaten 66 off 40 deliveries.
Smith and Philippe will play together for the Sydney Sixers on Thursday night in the Big Bash League (BBL).
The 25-year-old is a relative novice in T20 cricket, having played just seven matches in the format -- all with the Heat -- however there is expectation he will be able to replicate his remarkable longer-format form in the shortest format as well.
