Allan Border wants Steve Smith to stop his quirky behaviour
Steve Smith plays a shot [Associated Press]
Australian batting mainstay Steve Smith has become known for his distinctive and unorthodox demeanor on the cricket field. The right-hander's batting idiosyncrasies, including his distinctive leave, pre-delivery rituals, and unconventional style of playing through the onside, have made him a recognizable figure in the sport.
During the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur, Smith's eccentricities were on full display. The 33-year-old batsman was observed offering thumbs up gestures to Indian bowlers after being beaten outside the off-stump.
However, this behavior has not sat well with Australian cricketing legend Allan Border, who expressed his disdain for it and called for Smith to put a stop to it.
"Play with a harder edge I mean, we’re giving blokes the thumbs up when they’re beating us outside the off stump, What the hell is going on? That is just ridiculous. We’re even giving someone thumbs up , bloody hell," Border told Fox Sport.
Smith’s behaviour has become a talking point among cricket enthusiasts and purists alike. While some may view it as an expression of confidence and bravado, others may see it as a lack of respect for the opposition. Regardless, it remains to be seen whether Smith will heed Border's advice and change his ways on the field.
Meanwhile, Smith's outing in the first Test match against India was far from his best. The Australian No. 4 recorded scores of 37 and 25, which are well below his standard. Despite his dismissal in the first innings by Ravindra Jadeja, Smith remained steadfast in the second innings and managed to avoid another dismissal.