Aussie legend’s ‘failure’ theory on Steve Smith resurgence as Ponting record ‘on the radar’

Almost a year on from the end of Steve Smith’s short-lived stint as a Test opener, Australian great Adam Gilchrist believes the cameo provided the catalyst that sparked the star’s resurgence as a dominant force in world cricket.

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The 36-year-old has passed several milestones this year after rediscovering his best form, with Smith scoring four centuries in his past five Tests against India and Sri Lanka.

In the process he joined Allan Border, Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh as Australians to reach 10,000 Test runs and moved to equal fifth on the all-time Test century list with 36, equal with England’s Joe Root.

While Gilchrist believes Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 51 Test match tons may prove “a bridge too far” for Smith, he said he is capable of bettering Ponting’s Australian record of 41. He recently passed the Tasmanian’s catching record in Tests.

And Gilchrist credits the form resurgence of Smith, who led Australia to a 2-0 win over Sri Lanka, to his gamble to open against the West Indies and New Zealand at the end of last summer after the retirement of David Warner.

“Ironically, I think that move to the top of the order, which was a failure in what they were thinking might possibly be achievable for him to suddenly create a new career as an opener,” he told Whateley on SEN.

“I am not saying that as a criticism but that, to me, I think was the catalyst to him re-finding his hunger and that might be that the injection of enthusiasm he needs for, who knows, another three to four years. Anything’s possible with a guy who we shouldn’t put any boundaries on, or any restrictions on, what might be achievable for him.

“(Tendulkar’s record) looks like it might be a bridge too far, but certainly the Australian Ponting century record, that’s well and truly back on the radar. And it’s just fascinating for those of us (who have) watched so much cricket, to be intrigued closely by minor things like his foot movements or hand positions or the way he will take on a certain bowler in a certain way.”

Gilchrist, a Carlton fan who was in Melbourne for the Fox Footy season launch on Tuesday, said there was a lesson to be learned from watching Smith rebound to his best form.

The superstar went 24 innings without scoring a century between the 110 he scored against England at Lord’s during the Ashes in 2023 and the gritty 101 he made against India at the Gabba in December.

At a time where questions have been raised about Marnus Labuschagne’s security, Gilchrist said that it was a demonstration that patience is required when assessing the world’s best performers and that prematurely rushing to judgment can be ill-founded.

“It’s just amazing to think that he can take the bar even higher. I guess what it is a good lesson for us to continue to learn,” the Fox Cricket expert said.

“These legendary sportsmen and women who have such long careers, we must allow them an allowance. They’re going to go through little periods where they might not hit peak levels. They might even push out numbers (that are) very, very normal numbers, but we shouldn’t be panicking and pushing them to fast track the end of their careers.

“It was just fascinating to watch. The way he went about so many different methods to get himself back up to that level against India in that summer. He really fought hard for that Test match century … at the Gabba and then he had a different technique at the MCG.

“As a cricket enthusiast, it is extraordinary to watch a maestro go about his work and prove that, even at his level, he still wants to make adjustments and continue to learn and evolve.”

While Australia has been in mediocre form in ODI cricket since winning the World Cup in India in 2023 and is missing several elite performers for the ICC Champions Trophy beginning this week in Pakistan, Gilchrist said he wouldn’t put a surprise success “past them”.

With Australia’s frontline bowlers absent from the tournament, he said the nation’s hopes of progressing through a group featuring England, South Africa and Afghanistan rested on the batting line-up scoring heavily.

“It’s going to be tough work for our guys over there (who are) undermanned in those conditions, but don’t put it past them,” he said.

“It’s just going to be the big brass loading up and just hoping that you can keep more than understanding opposition and how well you can restrict their boundaries. It’s pretty cutthroat.”