Ashes 2019: Ability to Adapt Quickly Makes Steve Smith the Best, Says Tim Paine

Australia have registered a massive 251-run win over their arch-rival England in the first Ashes Test in Edgbaston. Their win came on the back of two brilliant centuries by Steve Smith in the two innings. He single-handedly snatched the game away from England. Smith scored 144 and 142 respectively in both the innings.

However, his batting impressed everyone, including his coach and captain Tim Paine who thinks Smith’s ability to adapt quickly made him one of the best players in the world cricket.

“Steve Smith averages over 60 in Test cricket, so I think the beauty of Steve is you can come up with a plan but he’s good enough to adapt really quickly,” Tim Paine said in Worcester on Friday. “I’ve seen him do it between balls, I’ve seen him do it when guys have targeted him from one end a certain way and a completely different way from the other end.”

“I think that’s what makes him the best player in the world, his ability to adapt to any plan that is thrown at him. I think he processes it quicker than other players and adapts on the spot,” he further added.

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh was also impressed by the knocks of Steve Smith.

“He knows the opposition, what they’re trying to do, how they’re trying to get him out and he seems to have an answer for everything,” Steve Waugh said to Wide World of Sports during the first Test.

“He’s an incredible player. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone quite like him and his appetite for runs is second to none. His technique is amazing, it’s unique, but he knows what he’s doing, he knows how to score runs. It’s like he analyses every ball, and it’s like a computer – he spits out the answer,” he added.

Australia will take on England in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, starting from August 14. The test series is a part of ICC World Test Championship (2019-21).