'Hopefully 65 by the end of the summer' - Steve Smith takes cheeky dig on Stuart Broad in pre-Ashes banter
Australian batter Steve Smith averages 59.68 from his 32 Ashes appearances.
The summer of one of the most intense cricket rivalries in the form of The Ashes 2023 is barely two months and things seem to be heating up between England and Australia. Recently, the veteran English pacer, Stuart Broad started a war of words by calling the last Ashes 'null and void' by citing Covid-19 bubbles as the major reason. While this may have got the Australian cricket aficionados furious, the Australian mainstay, Steve Smith has hit back at the legendary bowler by taking a cheeky dig at him.
In the latest banter after Broad's bizarre statement to irk Australia, Smith came up with a cheeky reply for him while the Englishman was replying to a post on Instagram. In his reply, Broad discussed 'Smudge' by saying that England love to go after Smith and get him out in any possible. Moreover, he also mentioned that Steve Smith averages 60, which surely proves how dangerous he can be with the bat once he looks settled on the pitch.
"To be fair I love it any time we get him out, in any variety, cause he averages 60," Broad said in reply to an Instagram post by cricket.com.au.
0
0Interestingly enough, just when the fans were expecting nobody from the Australian side to respond to Stuart Broad regarding his recent take on the Ashes or even to the ongoing challenge for the 'Bazball' style of play issued by the bowler, Australia's Steve Smith on noticing Broad's remark and jumped into the bandwagon of taking on the war of words. Consequently, the New South Wales-born took a cheeky dig to rattle the pacer by saying that he may even go on to better his current average by the end of the Ashes series in England.
"Hopefully 65 by the end of the summer," Smith cheekily responded.
It is worth mentioning that Steve Smith has featured in the Ashes for Australia on 32 occasions, whereby he averages 59.68. Moreover, he amassed 774 runs at a mind-boggling average of 110.57, in the last Ashes against England, back in 2019.
I'd love Smith to dance down the track and sky one to mid-off early doors: Broad
Meanwhile, England pacer Stuart Broad not only gave his blunt take on the Ashes 2021, but he also went a notch ahead by issuing a challenge to the Australian batters by saying that he would like the visitors to play an aggressive brand of cricket called the 'Bazball', which the English batters have been playing of late. And if the visitors dare to take on England in the upcoming Ashes 2023, then they may end up making mistakes which can help the hosts to regain the urn.
Additionally, he also cited the example of spinner, Jack Leach, bowling with all the fielders up and dismissing batters by luring them to hit the ball over the mid-off region. Hence, Broad took Steve Smith's name and said that he wants the Aussie to dance down the track and hit Leach over the mid-off region. As per Broad, Leach has scalped most wickets in that fashion than taking wickets off the LBW (Leg Before Wickets) form of dismissal.
“I'd love Smith to dance down the track and sky one to mid-off early doors. That would be classic,” Broad was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Notably, in the past year England have dominated most Test-playing nations with their new approach under the leadership of Ben Stokes and head coach, Brendon McCullum. As a result, Stokes had earlier revealed that he has been in touch with the curators of all the venues and has requested them to prepare flat and pacey pitches to suit their aggressive brand of cricket which can put pressure on Australia.
The first Test of the Ashes 2023 series between England and Australia will commence on June 16, at Birmingham in England.
Download Our App