FORMER Australian opener Simon Katich is confident Steve Smith will be Australia’s leading run scorer this Ashes.<\/p>\n
Katich is expecting England to set some traps for Smith but believes the 36-year-old has the wisdom and experience to scupper any Pommy plans.<\/p>\n
In 37 Tests against England, Smith has made 3417 runs with 12 centuries at an average of 56 against England and Katich believes he is capable of more.<\/p>\n
“I’ve tipped that it will be Steve Smith, I think he’s in for a big summer,” Katich said on SEN 1170 Breakfast when asked who will top Australia’s Test runs this summer.<\/p>\n
“I think England are going to have serious plans for him with their attack but I also think he’s so experienced and so good in our conditions that he will find a way to get through that challenge.<\/p>\n
“And I think he always gets himself up for the big Ashes (series). He’s had a good lead-in, he got a couple of 50s the other day at the SCG in a very low-scoring affair for New South Wales when they got bowled out for 120 in both innings.<\/p>\n
“He’s the standout for me. I think he’ll be the player of the series.”<\/p>\n
As for England’s top scorer, Katich made a massive call in relation to Joe Root.<\/p>\n
The star English bat has made 39 Test tons including four against the Aussies but has not reached triple figures on Australian soil.<\/p>\n
Katich reckons that trend might continue meaning his former teammate Matthew Hayden might just have to “walk nude around the MCG if he (Root) doesn’t make a hundred this summer”.<\/p>\n
“That’s a tough one, they’ve got some serious players in that lineup,” Katich said when pondering England’s leading run scorer.<\/p>\n
“I’m tipping that Root still doesn’t get a hundred here. I’m backing that in.<\/p>\n
“I want to see the big fella Matty Hayden have to do that lap. He’s come out and made a big statement. I think it’s around the MCG and I don’t reckon he’s got anything on.<\/p>\n
“I think everyone in Australia might be wanting to see that happen, but maybe there’s some that don’t as well, particularly his wife.”<\/p>\n
However, the SEN Cricket commentator does have Harry Brook at the top of his list from an England viewpoint.<\/p>\n
“In all seriousness, the one for me that is the danger man who can do some serious damage with the older ball is Harry Brook,” he added.<\/p>\n
“He comes in in unbelievable form over the last 12 to 18 months, he’s got the leadership of the white-ball team now, so I think he’ll be wanting to make a real statement in this series away from home.<\/p>\n
“To be that Kevin Pietersen-style player for England and really put that pressure on. He can be that man.”<\/p>\n
BY ANDREW SLEVISON\/SEN<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FORMER Australian opener Simon Katich is confident Steve Smith will be Australia’s leading run scorer this Ashes. Katich is expecting England to set some traps for Smith but believes the 36-year-old has the wisdom and experience to scupper any Pommy plans. In 37 Tests against England, Smith has made 3417 runs with 12 centuries at […]<\/p>\n