Cricket: Steve Smith Mimics Shahid Afridi
Australian batsman Steve Smith is mimicking retired Pakistan all-rounder, Shahid Afridi in hopes to patch up his disregarded bowling career.
In his recent match of the Caribbean Premier League, Smith took 2 wickets for 19 runs in 3 overs and also scored 63 runs from 44 balls, as Barbados defeated Jamaica by 2 wickets.
Steve Smith says he is trying to model his bowling action after Shahid Afridi. #JTvBT #CPL
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 23, 2018
This much appreciated performance won him the man of the match award.
However it was his leg spin bowling that garnered the most attention, as he claimed the wickets of both Jamaica openers Johnson Charles and Glenn Phillips in the space of five balls. He could have had a third, if a catch on the boundary was taken.
The former Australian captain made his Test debut in 2010 as a fair haired leg-spinner, batting at No.8 at Lord’s against Pakistan, who were captained by Shahid Afridi.
Although, Steve Smith has asserted 61 wickets in his international career so far, yet as of late has been hesitant to bowl himself.
If steve smith who hadn’t bowl leg spin in years can come and take 2-19 then why so fuss about lamichhane taking 2-17 consistently in CPL. Their batsman can’t play leg spin. #CPL #BTvJT
— Anish Mooen-ali (@ItsAnishM) August 23, 2018
However, in a move that has ended up being unfathomably beneficial, Smith put his leg-spinners to the other side a couple of years into his Test profession to center exclusively around his batting, which history will demonstrate was a fantastically astute choice.
When inquired about Smith’s decision to choose Afridi, he said:
Why not? The bloke’s played for a long time. He’s been a terrific leg-spinner.
As I’m getting a bit older I can’t walk in anymore and bowl as fast as I need to, so I’ve got a bit more momentum through my run-up so I can get the ball down a bit quicker, otherwise it just goes miles.
Smith, is at present, the No.1 Test batsman on the planet and has broken many batting records, with just the accomplishments of Sir Donald Bradman preventing him from asserting more.
In any case, with a year to tinker with his amusement as he sits out from global and Australian household cricket for his contribution in the Cape Town ball-tampering outrage, maybe seeing Smith rolling the arm over in the style of Afridi will turn out to be more typical.
Steve Smith came in to the team at least as a bowling all rounder, if not as a bowler. But then he quit bowling altogether once he found his mojo as a batsman. As somebody who enjoys wrist spin, it was disappointing to not see him bowl anymore. Glad he is back to bowling. https://t.co/uqJ9xKr9xT
— Amit S. (@sardamit) August 23, 2018
Smith’s Barbados sit fifth on the CPL points table, yet have played just three matches, winning two of them. The side presently returns home for five continuous matches, with their next game set against St Kitts.
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