Need for speed? Why Smith thinks England’s pace attack could struggle Down Under

The Optus Stadium deck promises to be the quickest and bounciest of the summer, followed by the Gabba’s day-night Test pitch in the first week of December. However, the likes of Fergus O’Neill, Nathan McAndrew and Jackson Bird, along with quicker Test squad members Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett, have dominated the Sheffield Shield with less express bowling in recent summers. Smith noted that England’s previous attacks – built around fast-bowling champions James Anderson and Stuart Broad – may have been better suited to the current pitches. “It’s different on the wickets now, I think,” Smith said of one of the fastest attacks England have sent to these shores.