The former Australian test captain Tim Paine has shared his thoughts about the debut of Steve Smith and the rapid promotion to become one of the best Cricket players in the Nation, ahead of the 10,000 -run Smith milestone. Paine also believes that Smith still has much more than contributing to sport. Paine made his Australian debut with Smith in 2010 in Lord’s against Pakistan. Smith, initially chosen as an all -terrain of bowling, scored 1 and 12 in his debut test, hitting at number 8. Paine said one thought he would define a gene generation.
“In his second test in Headingley, Smith scored 70 -ode. He was hitting at nine and was playing some shots that showed us that this guy is different.
“It was strange but it was fine. We played some hate and when the field was raised, I played some extraordinary shots and hit the ball in some quite strange areas.
“Only Greg Chappell at that stage thought he could become a world -class batter. We all think that it would simply be a leg spinner who would be an 8 or 9 batter expert.
“Seeing what he has done since then has been absolutely extraordinary. We have been seeing one of the best batters that has ever been seen, “Paine told Sen1170.
Smith is about to become the Australian fourth to achieve 10,000 race tests, joining Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh. It is stranded in 9,999 races after being fired in the second entry of the fifth test against India in Sydney earlier this month.
“It has a long way to go if you wish. While desire is still there, which I personally think is. Your reaction will be key after obtaining 10,000 races because it is always something you have wanted.
“The way he is playing and what I know about him is still at a very high level. Once that disappears, the impulse also does and there are still no signs of that. Hopefully he can continue for a few more years, “Paine said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a feed union).
Topics mentioned in this article