Former Australian batter Simon Katich has said that he would be surprised if England did not try to unsettle Steve Smith by using intimidatory tactics against him, similar to the ‘Bodyline’ series back in the day. The 50-year-old noted how New Zealand efficiently stopped the right-hander from scoring freely by using that tactic against him, adding that he expected England to take a cue from the Kiwis.
Smith will lead Australia in the first Ashes Test against England at Perth on November 21, in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, who is looking to get fit in time for the second Test.
“They [Stokes and McCullum] will have seen what New Zealand did to Steve Smith a few years ago so successfully in Australia”.
“I would be surprised if that wasn’t the same plan. As soon as Steve Smith came to the crease there were fielders scattered everywhere. I hate to use the word ‘Bodyline’ but that’s exactly what it was, really,” Katich told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Ashes preview show.
The ‘Bodyline’ tactic became infamously famous during England’s tour to Australia in 1932-33, when visiting captain Douglas Jardine’s bowlers targeted a batter’s body with short deliveries which was known as fast leg theory but was coined the term Bodyline.
The former opener cited how Neil Wagner used the short ball tactic against Smith when New Zealand toured Australia in 2019, which led to the right-hander’s dismissal four times.
“Neil Wagner executed it [for New Zealand] and went hard from the word go. Albeit not the same pace as England have got up their sleeves”.
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“I’d be very surprised if that doesn’t hit Steve Smith and maybe other Australian batters who are later in the careers in the next few weeks,” he said.
England last won the Ashes in Australia in 2010-11 under Andrew Strauss’ leadership, clinching the five Test series 3-1.
