I don't coach Steve Smith, he coaches himself: Justin Langer

By his exalted standards, Steve Smith has had a rough Test series against India thus far. The Australian batting genius has managed to score just 10 runs in 4 innings and averages just 3.33 in the ongoing series. And, Smith’s poor run of form has also hurt Australia’s chances, as they were thrashed by 8 wickets in the second Test at Melbourne.

The third Test in Sydney assumes paramount importance for the Aussies. If they lose the New Year’s Test, then the visitors will retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. And, it is a no-brainer that Australia’s chances will hinge on how quickly Steve Smith can get his act together in the remaining two Tests.

Australian coach Justin Langer has opined that great players have the ability to come back, and has added that the longer they are out of form, the sooner they will return back to their old selves. Langer also added that Smith is someone who can coach himself and that he does not have to interfere. The Aussie coach was also confident that Smith would soon come out of the mess that he is finding himself in.

“Imagine how good we will be when he does start batting – that’s how I look at it. He hasn’t had the best of series so far. He will be the first to admit that. My gosh, what I know about great players, the longer they miss out, the sooner they are coming good again. That puts a big smile on my face. How do you coach Steve? I don’t coach Steve Smith. Steve Smith coaches himself and I am sure he is going to work it out,” said Langer in a virtual conference.

Steve Smith is a great problem solver: Justin Langer

Langer also added that Smith is sweating it out in the nets, and termed Steve Smith as a great problem solver and a great player. He also acknowledged the importance of spending time ‘out there’ in a match scenario.

“Steve is always hitting a lot of balls. He did a lot leading up to it [MCG Test] but, again, there is nothing, even for the greatest of players, there is nothing that replaces time in the middle. And we know what a great problem solver he is, we know what a great player he is.”

Australia would be hoping that Smith returns to his run-scoring ways and leads Australia’s charge to victory with the willow in the Third Test. And, if Smith can get going, the Indian camp would definitely not be secure about it.

The Third Test will begin on January 7th, 2021.