Former Australian opener David Warner has stirred excitement ahead of the Ashes series, predicting a dominant performance from Steve Smith. Warner believes the veteran batter will score an astonishing five centuries against England this summer.
These bold comments come after Smith showcased his exceptional form, scoring a commanding 118 for New South Wales against Queensland at the Gabba. This impressive 176-ball innings, which included 20 fours and a six, helped New South Wales reach 349/5 at stumps on Day Two of the Sheffield Shield match.
Speaking on Fox Cricket, Warner expressed immense confidence in Smith’s readiness for the Ashes challenge. “If that man Steve Smith can score big runs (this summer), they’ll be fine. If Smith gets on a roll and he starts scoring runs, it’s going to be a challenge for England.”
Warner even suggested that Smith could solidify his legacy as Australia’s second-best batter, trailing only the legendary Sir Donald Bradman. “I reckon he’s got five centuries in him. He only had one (net session) the other day and came out and scored a hundred today; that’s Steve Smith.”
Smith’s recent century elevates his Test total to 36, placing him just five centuries shy of Ricky Ponting’s Australian record of 41. Despite his retirement from One Day Internationals earlier this year, Warner asserts that Smith’s physical conditioning and unwavering motivation will ensure his career longevity.
“The one thing missing from him is winning in India. He knows his body now, he knows what he’s capable of – if he wants to get to that Indian series, he will.”
Adding to the chorus of praise, Indian cricket legend Ravi Shastri lauded Smith’s remarkable adaptability and leadership qualities, especially as he prepares to captain Australia in Pat Cummins’ absence. “What’s always amazed me about Steve… is his ability to adapt to different conditions and improvise, even in the middle of a series, sometimes in the middle of an innings. (Captaincy) will get the best out of him, that’s for sure. He’ll be tuned on, absolutely.”
Warner underscored Smith’s relentless pursuit of improvement. “He’s still learning. If he’s still learning, god help everybody else.”
The first Ashes Test between Australia and England is scheduled to commence at Perth Stadium on November 21. Smith currently boasts an impressive average of 112.28 when captaining in Ashes contests, a statistic that will surely concern the English side.