England will burst Smith’s bubble in Ashes, says Pope
Steve Smith
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Harry Brook banned from IPL for two years
14 Mar 25
England's Ollie Pope said that they are looking for ways to restrict Steve Smith in the upcoming Ashes series.
Smith smashed his 31st Test ton against India in the World Test Championship final at the Oval before he was out for 121 from 268 balls on day two.
"He loves batting in England, over the years he averages over 60 here now. It's obvious he knows these conditions and he knows his game inside out, so there's a lot of respect for him," said Pope.
"But there's also a lot of talented bowlers in our changing room who have worked out ways we can challenge him. I can't say too much but there's probably slightly different plans this time," he said.
Pope said the English bowlers will get Smith out of his bubble and make the run machine as uncomfortable as possible.
"He's got his routines - his slightly longer routines - before he faces each ball and he won't be ready until he's done all those routines. What's made him successful is that stubbornness and that stubbornness for runs as well. That's exactly the bubble we've got to try and get him out of,"
"Steve Smith is a highly-skilled batter and scores a lot of runs, but I think for him we might be looking at even quirkier ways to challenge him, test him out and make him as uncomfortable as we possibly can to try and get his wicket," he added.
