Published 16:38 IST, September 18th 2019
'Steve Smith's technique would be accepted if he was Indian'
Lamenting Australian cricket's "aversion" to embrace unconventional styles, Steve Smith's coach Woodhill observed that Smith's technique would be okay in India.
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Lamenting Australian cricket's "aversion" to embrace unconventional styles, Steve Smith's formative coach Trent Woodhill observed that his famous ward's uniqueness would be accepted in Indian system, where it is "all about output". Days after Steve Smith redefined art of run-scoring in an Ashes series that belonged to him, Woodhill said uniqueness and urthodox styles should be celebrated. Steve Smith dominated series by accumulating 774 runs at an aver of more than 110 that included three centuries and as many fifties. However, his unique approach to batting, especially while leaving deliveries, was discussed by those who view his technique through classical lens.
"If Steven was Indian, his technique and mechanics and strategy around his batting would just be accepted," Woodhill was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo. "We see Kohli, Gavaskar, (Rohit) Sharma, Ganguly, Sehwag - all se players have unique techniques. Indian system is all about output, about scoring runs, 'We don't care how you do it as long as you do it', whereas in Australia we wanted you to score well and we wanted you to look good."
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Woodhill unhappy with those unwilling to accept new technique
Woodhill isn't too happy with those struggling to accept uniqueness, saying this attitude can have a negative impact on a young player's career. "Young players need protection from both mselves and ors who don't like difference. A cricket dressing room can be a brutal place for a young player, who might be forced to conform - more so in Australia than any or country I've been in. "In Australia, we struggle with things that are different. We like a sexy Shaun Marsh thirty, me with a conventional, attractive technique, rar than an unconventional Steven Smith hundred." He called Smith best since great Donald Brman.
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Woodhill cites Anil Kumble, Rashid Khan as example
While talking about unconventional approach, he also cited Indian spin legend Anil Kumble and Afghanistan's star wrist spinner Rashid Khan."Or nations just find a way to accommodate such players. Like a Rashid Khan, who holds ball like an offspinner but bowls leg-spin, an Anil Kumble - seam-up, wrist-spin, predominantly wrong'un. Australian cricket likes to pass baton on: this is how you do it, this is how it's always been done. Steven's come along, and to some extent, David Warner's come along and said, ', we're gonna do it this way w', and y've h a lot of success," Woodhill observed. ." old guard, older Test greats, still can't understand how it works. So y still think, especially bowlers, 'Well, if I was bowling, I'd sort this guy out'. "And that's thing with cricket, especially in England and Australia: 'If I can't understand how it looks, it can't work'. "Steven has proven m wrong. He's best since Brman; this is t even an argument anymore."
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16:06 IST, September 18th 2019