da leao： Steven Smith, the Australian legspinner, is eager to make a mark if given an opportunity to play on Boxing Day against Pakistan
Osman Samiuddin at the MCG25-Dec-2009
Steven Smith has been called up as cover for Nathan Hauritz•Getty Images
Eleven first-class wickets at over 75 isn’t the best impression a younglegspinner can leave in the land of Warne, and they aren’t the mostpromising credentials to possibly make a Test debut with. But preciselythat prospect awaits Steven Smith on Boxing Day at the MCG againstPakistan.The 20-year old was drafted into the squad as cover for Nathan Hauritz,whose long-standing groin complaint may yet rule him out on Saturdaymorning. Mohammad Yousuf, predictably, was clueless when asked about him: “Steven Smith? Is he Australian?” But he can be forgiven, for fewAustralians will have heard much about him. Ricky Ponting, who might be captaining him tomorrow, hasn’t faced a single ball from Smith, but is excited by the potential of the young NSW legspinner.”Sometimes it can be an exciting thing when you see these young guysgiving it a really good crack and seeing how they go,” Ponting said. “Imust admit I haven’t faced a ball against him yet and probably a few guys[in the team] haven’t faced him in state cricket. But he’s impressedeverybody with what he has done in all forms of the game over the last fewmonths and that is exciting. We haven’t really had young guys coming overthe last few years into the Australian side and show what they’ve got.Quite often it’s a good thing for young guys to get in and learn aboutthemselves and learn about their game. If he gets an opportunity, there’llbe no fear there from him. He’ll really relish it.”A few full tosses in training betrayed nerves perhaps, but givenPakistan’s poor track record against spin – of all kinds, shades andqualities – betting against some success if Smith does play would befoolish, even if he is just happy to be around the squad. “While I am veryconfident and hopeful Nathan Hauritz will be OK, if I was given theopportunity it would mean the world to me to play for Australia,” Smithsaid. “Just to be noticed by the selectors is an unbelievable feeling andto spend some time around the squad before the Perth Test and now here inMelbourne has been absolutely brilliant.”When I got the phone call last night from Michael Brown that they wantedme to come down as a standby player it was a huge surprise and really anearly Christmas present. My family is very excited and if Nathan doesn’trecover in time and I do get an opportunity to play they will certainly becoming down to watch. I know I will be doing everything I can to grab thatopportunity with both hands.”Hauritz bowled in training on Friday and looked solid, according toPonting; but his inclusion will depend on how he feels in the morning.”With Nathan it is a bit the same as me,” said Ponting. “He is a whole lotbetter today in training than he was yesterday. He had a good solid bowland put a lot more work on the ball and that is a good sign. But as weknow with his injury over the last few weeks, it’s been a day to day sortof thing with him, one day he feels great, next day he doesn’t feel sogood. Tomorrow morning will be an important time for him. We’ll wait andsee how he wakes up.”Australia have struggled to come to terms with the departure of ShaneWarne in 2007, though no side in the world would replace him easily. Theywent through a number of different spinners in the last two years, beforecoming to an unspectacular, steady equilibrium of sorts with Hauritz. Theprospect of Smith remains more exciting than the actuality currently, butPonting believes in the fresh element of surprise he might bring.”It’s always nice to have young guys around the squad, particularly youngspinners,” Ponting said. “There is definitely a surprise element to him but with hisbatting, he is overall a very good package and we have seen him developwell in state cricket over the last 12 months. I’m sure he’d like [hisfirst-class average] to be a lot less, and liked to have taken a lot morewickets. But he’s an exciting young legspinner and that’s where it lieswith him. He hasn’t played a lot of cricket but hopefully if he gets anopportunity to play for us, his Test record will be better than his firstclass at the end of the series.”