Australia star Steve Smith fine-tuning for Ashes with Sussex deal
Australia’s top batsman Steve Smith was unveiled as the latest Great White Shark after joining Sussex for three Championship matches and an Ashes tune up.
Smith will be swimming in far shallower waters than he is used to down on the coast at Hove where he spoke of his desire to help the young county batsmen and offer sage advice wherever possible.
But the truth is, starting with a game against Worcestershire on Thursday, the 33-year-old will get to enjoy the benefits of competitive cricket in the same conditions he will face in the World Test Championship final and then the five match Ashes series squeezed into six and a half weeks in June and July.
Smith was keen to point out that he has a pretty good record in Ashes cricket in England, which of course he does, but with no warm up matches at all planned for the Aussies, this is prime preparation for their best batter.
“It’s going to be great with a few games here at Sussex first,” said Smith. "I’ve always wanted to play county cricket. I’ve played the game internationally for 13 or 14 years and I’ve never really had the opportunity.
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“I’ve seen a lot of talk about getting used to conditions but you’ve got to remember I’ve played a lot of cricket in England before, so conditions aren’t really new to me.
Steve Smith will enjoy his time by the Brighton coastline playing three games for Sussex“I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks. Hanging out with some of the younger batters and having some good conversations with them and helping them along their journey.”
When asked why an Ashes win in England had still eluded him and his teammates since 2001, the answer perhaps revealed why so many other Australians have been keen to play here this summer too.
“It’s the conditions, the wicket sometimes, the Duke's ball is obviously different to the kookaburra back home,” he admitted. “The sun or clouds change it; you’ve got to be able to adapt. We probably haven’t adapted well enough when we’ve been over for the last 20 years.
Smith would be happy to see Joe Root playing Sheffield Shield cricket before an Ashes series Down Under (MARTY MELVILLE/AFP via Getty Images)“England just play tremendous cricket at home all the time and anyone who plays at home knows the conditions a lot better.”
Some have questioned the generosity of the English game by offering so many Australia players the chance to get used to conditions during an Ashes summer with three of their squad and 10 others currently playing for counties.
But unsurprisingly both Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace and Smith reckon the pros outweigh the cons for English cricket, and the Aussie even suggested he would be happy to see Joe Root be given a spot in the New South Wales team ahead of an Ashes tour Down Under.
Smith added: "I think it’d be great if Rooty played. Obviously, he’s a class performer and I think some of the young batters in Australia would be able to learn things off him as well. So I've got absolutely no dramas with it whatsoever."
Smith is ready to offer advice to young Sussex battersFarbrace said: "It is all about opinions and I totally understand why some people would feel that way about Steve, but the fact we are talking about Championship cricket is good for the game.
"Having Steve here is good for English cricket with what he can pass on and what the Sussex players and others can learn from him. I've got friends who think we are helping Australia. We are not at all."
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England skipper Ben Stokes has specifically asked for flatter and faster pitches this summer which should suit the Aussies too, but will they get sucked into a Bazball battle?
“The way they have played the last 12 months, I’ve kept a pretty close eye on it,” said Smith. “It’s been really exciting to watch.
Smith reckons it will be a challenge for England to continue their style against the Aussie bowlers (Getty Images)“Against our attack it is going to be a challenge for them. I don’t think they’re going to change the way they play. Stokes has already said that, hopefully it doesn’t come off.
“I will probably play just my game which I think has always been going up and down the gears, putting pressure on the bowlers when I can and absorbing pressure when I need to.”
There is of course a chance for England’s bowlers to lay down a marker too against Smith, just as Sussex teammate Ollie Robinson has done in the nets.
“Ollie bowled to me yesterday actually,” admitted Smith. “I left one, third ball and he knocked me over so that wasn't ideal.”
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