Steve Smith Batting Technique Explained: The Unusual Setup, Back-to-Off Guard, and Being the Best After Kohli

Steve Smith (born June 2, 1989, Kogarah, NSW, Australia) is Australia's most statistically impressive Test batsman of the modern era — averaging above 60 in Tests with 30+ Test centuries, despite employing one of the most unconventional batting techniques of any elite batsman. His technique — which no coaching manual would prescribe — works because of exceptional hand-eye coordination, supreme concentration, and an extraordinary ability to make late adjustments. He is widely considered the world's best Test batsman for much of the 2015-2023 period.

Smith's Unconventional Batting Setup

Smith's technique analysis: (1) The initial guard: Smith typically takes a guard around off stump or leg stump — depending on the conditions and bowler. His setup position in the crease is often wider than conventional, with feet set outside the crease; (2) The pre-delivery movement: as the bowler runs up, Smith makes a distinctive backward and across movement — stepping backward and toward off stump simultaneously. This means by the time the ball is released, he has already moved significantly from his initial position. Traditional batting coaches teach minimal pre-delivery movement (a small trigger movement, not a large initial step); (3) The back-lift: Smith's backlift goes toward point or gully (typically third-man or point direction) — away from the bowler. A conventional back-lift goes toward mid-off or the keeper. Smith's backlift creates unusual angles that should theoretically cause timing issues with straight balls, yet his contact is consistently clean; (4) The head position: Smith's head falls to off side during his backlift — creating a tilted head position that would normally cause problems with the line of sight to the ball. Yet his head stabilises before impact and his eye-line is typically very steady; (5) The overall effect: Smith's technique should, in theory, create weaknesses to balls around off stump (due to his movement toward off) and to balls on leg stump (his head position). Yet elite bowlers — Dale Steyn, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Jasprit Bumrah — have all struggled to exploit structural weaknesses that theoretically exist.

The 2019 Ashes: Smith's Defining Performance

2019 Ashes (England, post-sandpaper-gate return): (1) Context: Smith was serving a 12-month ban (sandpaper gate, March 2018 — Cape Town) and returned to cricket in 2019. England's bowlers had spent a year studying his technique, preparing plans to exploit his unusual movement; (2) The performance: Smith scored 774 runs in 7 innings across the 2019 Ashes series (with 1 injury absence). Scores: 144, 142, 92, 211, 82, 80, 23. England won the series 2-1, but Smith's batting was the dominant individual performance of the series; (3) 774 runs in a series: this is the 3rd highest aggregate by any batsman in an Ashes series (behind Don Bradman's 974 in 1930 and Wally Hammond's 905 in 1928-29). Smith's 774 runs in the 2019 Ashes (on English conditions, historically difficult for batsmen who move heavily to off stump) confirmed him as the best Test batsman of his generation; (4) Jofra Archer vs Smith: the 2019 Ashes produced cricket's most compelling individual contest — Jofra Archer (England's new fast bowler, bowling at 145+ km/h) vs Steve Smith. Archer struck Smith on the neck with a short ball — Smith left the field with concussion, missing part of the 2nd Test. In subsequent Tests, Archer could not remove Smith (who scored 211 and 82 in the 4th Test, Old Trafford).

Smith's Career Statistics and Legacy

Steve Smith's career overview: (1) Test statistics (as of 2026): approximately 9,000+ Test runs, 32+ Test centuries, average above 60.00 (one of the highest sustained averages in Test cricket history for a player with 80+ Tests). His average puts him in the company of Sir Donald Bradman, Graeme Pollock, Herbert Sutcliffe, and George Headley — players who averaged 60+ across long Test careers; (2) The world No. 1 ranking: Smith held the ICC Test batting No. 1 ranking for extended periods from 2015 to 2023 — in total more months than Kohli or any other batsman in the same period. The rankings reflect that Smith's scoring consistency has been the highest sustained in the sport; (3) ODI cricket: Smith's ODI record is significantly below his Test record (ODI average approximately 41, with occasional significant innings). His batting technique — designed for patience and constructing long innings — is less suited to the pace required in ODI cricket; (4) The comparison with Kohli: the Steve Smith vs Virat Kohli debate (who is the world's greatest batsman?) was cricket's defining argument of the 2015-2022 era. Kohli's ODI record is clearly superior; in Tests, the two players traded the No. 1 ranking. Smith's Test average is higher; Kohli's innings-building in adverse conditions (vs South Africa 2018, vs Australia 2014-15) is often cited as superior contextual performance.