Why Steve Smith Holds The Edge For Australia Vs Pakistan At Bangalore’s Chinnaswamy
Steve Smith has had an underwhelming World Cup campaign [AP]
The last time Steven Smith played a one-dayer at the Chinnaswamy in Bangalore, he ended up top-scoring for Australia. His brilliant, brisk and brave century culminated in 131 brilliant runs off just 132 deliveries.
That he scored one of his fifth one-day tons against India with this knock wasn't the only enviable facet; Smith scored 131 of his team's output of 286 runs, which was no mean feat.
There are batters who back themselves to go for the runs on familiar conductions and then those who excel miles away from home.
With 12 ODI tons to his name and north of 1300 runs against India in the format, Smith makes for a Smithsonian experience for the fan.
Under then captain Aaron Finch's leadership, Smith, three years back in the day, played what could be called an unforgettable ton. He first repaired a scorecard that at 2-46 was going nowhere and later added flourishing strokes that only a maverick with the bat like him could do, especially against an attack that featured India's Bumrah, Shami, Yadav and Jadeja.
Four of these bowlers are still very much around and going strong for the hosts of the ongoing ODI World Cup.
But unfortunately, there's no opportunity for Smith to face the very side he hammered the last time around during this 2020 century, for Australia have already faltered against India.
But all's not lost, and that's definitely also the case with Smith, a true great of the game.
As he steps foot once again at the legendary Chinnaswamy stadium of Bangalore, one of Australia's greatest run makers, one perennially greedy for runs, will direct his attention at a different opponent, one that's come to India from the other side of India's border.
However, truth be told, even Pakistan can't take things for granted with regard to Smith despite having someone like Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi in their ranks.
For now, the big question is- can October 20th's contest be one where Steven Smith blunts what'll likely be yet another display of formidable bowling?
Steve Smith has an impressive record vs Pakistan [AP]
That told, facts first. Thus far, from eleven one-dayers, Smith has scored 511 runs against Pakistan.
This includes- a duck, two centuries, three fifties, and, what's more, one unbeaten inning that culminated in 108 precocious runs.
But today, if you're a Pakistan bowler, you're not just concerned about bowling to a batsman who's as good a bowler of spin as he is a player of medium pace; you're concerned about the fact that the man famous for gap finding and grinding it out for the ones and twos hit his personal best score at the WACA, which isn't a tiny ground.
How might then batting to his full strength at Bangalore bring any curb to the free-scoring man's way? But do Pakistan only have a window to a sullen view?
Despite there not being Naseem Shah, clearly the bowler that Babar's team is missing in this campaign, and there being a sort of lacklustre Hasan Ali, the famed Australian batsman has his task cut out.
The experienced former captain of the Australian side will have to counter Pakistan's fast bowling trio that, as of date, commands 246 ODI dismissals.
Ninety-eight of these wickets have come, thanks to Hasan Ali. Meanwhile, the pace sensation Afridi's tally is growing to 90 ODI wickets as Rauf stands next to 58 one-day dismissals.
Then, to a batting order that's clearly not been producing the daddy runs that are keenly needed, Smith also has to realise the need to safeguard his wicket since the other two batsmen, Warner and Marsh, haven't been coming good.
Glenn Maxwell could be a threat to PAK bowling unit [AP]
Moreover, the Australian World Cup squad will now look for someone like Glenn Maxwell to come good at the Chinnaswamy whilst not solely wanting the enormity of run-scoring to fall on Smith's shoulders.
And why's that?
From 18 ODI's against Pakistan so far, Maxwell has scored 730 plus runs. That's the most by a batsman from the current crop of Australians.
The venue means more to him than any other Australian player, given the big hitter's IPL familiarity owing to his RCB days. But then, today's a different day; we are born anew. There are new challenges to face and new battles to take back control of.
And on their part, the under-pressure Australians would hope that Smith and Maxwell can play that part well, darn well, and Smith, especially speaking!
 "Dev Tyagi")