There are two things that Pune Warriors India's Steve Smith would like to do. Bat a bit higher in the order, and bowl a few overs of leg-spin. But the Australian hasn't been able to do either, thanks to an "adamant" team management.
Having scored 220 runs at a respectable average of 36 in nine games so far, Smith has hit the most number of sixes for the Sourav Ganguly-led side (12). “I would prefer to bat a bit higher in the order. But the management is adamant that they want me to bat at a certain batting position (No 6),” he told MiD DAY.
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“It’s not easy to hit the second or third ball for a six every time. I have been able to do it a couple of times, but it would not come off as often as it would,” he said.
The team management obviously does not rate Smith’s leg-spin highly, a trade that earned him an Aussie Test cap at 21. Smith hasn’t been used as a bowler in any of the nine games so far.
Smith hopes to roll his arm over soon. “We have lost a couple of games. So there could be a change in plans, I might get to bowl a few overs,” he said.