Yasir Shah might just have pressed the wrong button to start off his Australian tour on a wrong note despite bowling well at Brisbane and cleaning up Steven Smith. The leg-spinner got good drift and turn at The Gabba and ripped one last the edge of Smith to dismiss him for the seventh time in Test cricket.
What followed was a huge celebration from Yasir with the veteran leggie putting up his fingers to signal that he had dismissed him seven times. This clearly miffed Smith, who was unaware that Yasir had dismissed him seven times.
I am motivated, particularly after he put his fingers up that he got me seven times,” Smith said in Adelaide. “A couple of the boys were in the sheds just after that and said ‘he’s just woken up the beast’ or something like that. We’re in for a battle next week. I’m not going to be giving away my wicket very easily this time.
“I actually didn’t even know that he’d gotten me out [seven times]. I thought that he’d gotten me out once or twice. Seven times? There you go. Pakistan [UAE] 2014, he got me twice at least there, actually three times.”
Most of the times, Smith was racing towards a declaration or building on a strong platform to notice that he had been dismissed by Yasir.
“A few of those times I was slogging to set up a game or second innings he got me out slogging trying to do something once or twice too,” Smith said. “A couple of I guess you’d call them cheap wickets in a way, but he’s got me a couple of conventional times as well.
“I thought he bowled really well at the Gabba last week. He got good drift and a little bit of spin when it was on offer. I’m not overly worried about him but playing with a bit more discipline this week and hopefully will score some runs.”
It is rumoured that Smith missed the team bus and took off on a 3km run to punish himself for getting out cheaply at Brisbane. It makes for an interesting battle at Adelaide with the pink ball with Smith determined to show Yasir who he is. The “beast” in him has woken up and this time it might be tough for Pakistan to contain him.