Smith has admitted that he like to watch and adopt the batting style some of the best batsmen in the world.
Steve Smith had rose to become the number 1 Test batsman in the world (according to the ICC’s Test rankings).
He has been in amazing form lately and has performed consistently. One of the reasons for his success is his unorthodox batting style that has been described as "unique", "self-styled" or "idiosyncratic". However, the man himself has revealed the real reason behind his success and his unique batting style.
Smith has admitted that he copies some of the best batsmen in the world.
Speaking to cricket.com.au, Smith said, “I look at some of the best players around the world and sometimes I do try and bat like them. I just try and learn, and these guys are the best players in the world for a reason. So you try and get whatever you can out of them.”
He revealed how for Australia's tour to India and Bangladesh last year, Smith adopted some of the technical nuances he had noticed in Kohli's batting.
Smith said that he changed the grip to suit the sub-continental pitches.
”In places like India, for instance, I open my hands up a little bit. I don’t feel that I can get nicked off (caught behind the wicket) quite as easily in India as opposed to somewhere like Australia or South Africa. So I open up different parts of the ground,” he said.
However changing himself so much is not easy and sometimes it can be a bit difficult coming back from.
“I actually forgot how I like to hold the bat when I’m in Australia the last time I came back, so it might work for a while but it takes a bit of getting used to.”
Smith revealed that his 'dab' stroke, where he shapes the bat face at such an angle to deflect the ball past slips, is lifted directly from New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. His borrowed AB de Villiers' back-foot stretegy too.
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