Former Australia skipper Steve Smith currently holds the top spot in the latest released ICC Test rankings for batsmen, and for bowlers around the globe, he’s nothing but a nightmare.
Still, there’s a bowler who is challenging Smith as he has dismissed the 30-year-old seven times in Test cricket.
Pakistan’s Yasir Shah clean bowled Smith in the opening Test at Gabba, and the leg-spinner celebrated by showing seven fingers to reveal the number of times he has sent Smith back to the pavilion.
Yasir Shah has now dismissed Steve Smith seven times in Test cricket – and knows it! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/ykTqg1imIS
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 23, 2019
Now, the right-handed batsman has responded to Yasir’s cheeky celebration and said that his dismissal motivates him, and he’s determined not to get out again by the leggie.
“I am motivated, particularly after he put his fingers up … that he got me seven times. I’m not going to be giving away my wicket very easily this time,” Smith said on Tuesday.
“I didn’t even know that he’d gotten me out seven times. I thought that he’d gotten me out once or twice. Seven times? There you go. Pakistan [UAE] 2014, he got me twice, at least there, actually three times.”
“A few of those times I was slogging to set up a game or second innings, he got me out slogging trying to do something once or twice too,” Smith added.
However, Yasir is not the only bowler who has dismissed Smith this many times. England pacer Stuart Broad has dismissed the Australian talisman eight times in Test cricket. James Anderson had sent Smith back to the hut six times, whereas Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka took the pleasure of getting him out five times.
Bowlers to dismiss worlds No 1 batsman Steve Smith most times in Tests. #Cricket
8 – Stuart Broad
7 – Yasir Shah
6 – James Anderson
5 – Rangana Herath— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) November 25, 2019
Meanwhile, Australia won the first Test by an innings and five runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The second Test will be a day-night game slated to be held in Adelaide from Thursday (November 29).
