Australian cricketer Steve Smith reflects on the difficulties faced by batters in the last three years due to changes in the Kookaburra ball and greener wickets. He discusses the added challenges of facing world-class bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah and the impact it has on batting averages. Smith notes that it has been the hardest period of his career, but still manages to score a century in the third Test against India.
Australian cricket legend Steve Smith has spoken out about the challenges faced by batters in recent years due to changes in the Kookaburra ball and greener wickets.
Background:
The Kookaburra ball, used in international and domestic cricket in Australia, has undergone several modifications in recent years. These changes, aimed at improving swing and seam movement, have made it more difficult for batters to score runs. Additionally, the preparation of wickets has shifted towards greener surfaces, providing greater assistance to fast bowlers.
Smith's Perspective:
Smith, who has been one of the most prolific batters of his generation, has found the recent changes to be a significant hurdle. He described the past three years as "the hardest period" of his career.
"The ball is doing a lot more than it used to," Smith said. "It's swinging and seaming more, and the wickets are much greener. It's made it really hard to bat."
Impact on Batting Averages:
The difficulties faced by batters have been evident in declining batting averages across the game. Smith's own average has dropped from 61.37 before the changes to 54.27 in the last three years.
Challenges of Facing World-Class Bowlers:
Compounding the issue is the presence of world-class bowlers like India's Jasprit Bumrah. Smith praised Bumrah as "the best swing bowler in the world."
"He's so skillful, and he can bowl in any conditions," Smith said. "He makes it really difficult to score runs against him."
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Despite the difficulties, Smith remains determined to succeed. He recently scored a century in the third Test against India, proving that even in challenging conditions, he is still a force to be reckoned with.
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