Melbourne, July 30 : Former Australian batsman Dean Jones believes that all-rounder Steve Smith was ill-prepared for Test cricket.
Jones said that due to the lack of quality bowling in first-class cricket, Smith had not developed a solid defensive game.
“Can Steve Smith, while under pressure in Test cricket and first-class cricket from good quality bowlers, is his defence good enough to cope? The answer at the moment is no and that’s why he’s not there,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Jones, as saying.
“I’ve got no problem with the selectors having a dip with him, but obviously … he was a bit short. You’ve got to make it in one discipline and that’s got to be good enough to make the team, as a bowler or a batsman. Which one is he? That’s the question,” he added.
Smith made his Test debut against Pakistan at Lords in 2010.
His bowling was not required in the first innings, but he took three wickets for 51 in the second innings.
© ANI
