Thaindian News

Sydney, Aug 15 (ANI): Australian spinner Steve Smith wants the media not to draw parallels with his childhood hero, spin legend Shane Warne, and dismissed the comparisons as inaccurate.

Smith, 21, who made his Test debut against Pakistan at Lord’s last month, wants critics to stop comparing him to Warne and let him be himself.

“I’m a blond leg-spinner, but me and Shane are completely different bowlers - and I’m a batsman as well. I like to be my own person so I don’t really go too much for that Shane Warne business,” he said.

“(Labelling or being compared to past players) is going to happen when you play for Australia, but I think it’s all about going out and being your own person and playing your own way, and to let people judge you on that. Well, that’s what I believe,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Smith, as saying.

Smith learnt some trade secrets from Warne, but much of his time during the Australian team’s one-day series against England and two Tests against Pakistan was spent working on varying his style.

“I was able to work on the line I’m bowling. I worked (with Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke) on the sort of line to bowl on a day-one or day-two wicket to give me a few more options of getting wickets; I was bowling more the off-stump line and sliding the ball in with my shape. That was one of the biggest things I learned over there,” Smith said.

He said the excitement at being presented with his baggy green by Ponting had long settled, and he realised his chances of being part of the Ashes summer depended on a strong start with NSW. (ANI)