Former Australian cricketer Kerry O’Keeffe has backed Steve Smith to score big in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. While mentioning that he is at the end of his career, O’Keeffe endorsed that the Brisbane pitch will suit Smith’s playability.
Steve Smith hasn’t been in good form with the bat lately. The legendary Australian batsman, who has a stellar record in Test cricket, is yet to fire in the ongoing Test series against India. He will be under pressure when he comes out to bat in the third Test match.
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Kerry O’Keeffe backs Steve Smith to score big at Gabba
While speaking to Fox Sports ahead of the third Test, Kerry O’Keeffe stated that Smith can score a lot in the match if the pitch becomes a bit flat and the platform is ready for him.
O’Keeffe cited an example from Smith’s final innings at the Gabba, where he scored an unbeaten 91 against the West Indies, but was unable to take his team beyond the finish line.
“If this pitch loses its edge and he comes in with a platform, I think he can do it big here, Steve Smith. He’s 35 years old, he’s in the twilight of his career. But I’m telling you, everything is set here. He is” A track specialist. He could have won that Test against the West Indies last year. He scored 91 not out opening the batting,” O’Keeffe said.
Steve Smith failed to lead Australia to victory
Steve Smith scored 91 off 146 balls while opening the batting during the second Test between Australia and the West Indies played earlier this year. He hit 9 fours and 1 six during his knock.
Smith was not out until the end, but could not prevent Australia from losing the match in shocking fashion. Fast bowler Shamar Joseph produced a performance of a lifetime with 7-68 to lead the West Indies to a thrilling victory.
Michael Vaughan on Steve Smith’s batting form
Meanwhile, former England captain Michael Vaughan also backed Smith to make big runs and claimed he couldn’t have done much about the ways he has been dismissed so far in the series.
“The first one that cuts back is a beauty. The second one gets one that cuts, it’s a good ball. Then he gets one down the leg side. So of the three dismissals you go for, there’s not much.” can do with any of them,” Vaughan said on the same platform.
Smith has recorded scores of 0, 17 and 2 in the first two tests of the ongoing series. With just 19 runs in two Tests at an average of 6.33, the star Australian batsman is under enormous pressure to perform in Brisbane.
He has played 111 Tests so far and scored 9704 runs at an average of 56.09 with 32 hundreds and 41 fifties. At one point, he used to average over 60, but he dropped significantly after his drop in form.