Smith stresses adaptable plans as Australia brace for Bazball

Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith said he's "super excited" for a much-hyped Ashes series and stressed the need for his side to be versatile. While he spoke explicitly about Australia's flexible batting order, the way he described adapting to Bazball suggested that the same quality will be crucial with the ball too: switching gears, reshaping fields and responding to momentum shifts on the fly.

Australia had a taste of the Bazball tempo in the 2023 Ashes in England and Smith expects the same patterns to play out again down under. "I think it's just playing the tempo of the game that needs to be played at each certain time. I've no doubt throughout this series there's going to be periods of the game where a few of their batters get off and they score some runs quickly.

"For us, it might be about being a little bit defensive in those moments and then finding the moments where we can attack a bit more and just playing the game, really, that's in front of us and not letting it drift too far before we implement the plans that need to be played at that certain time," he said.

Smith believes debutant Jake Weatherald will add another dimension at the top. Weatherald was in spectacular form for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield last season, which earned him his place in the side. Smith said he was impressed by the left-hander's confidence and ball-striking in the nets. "He's been selected for his performances over the last 18 months in particular. He's batted exceptionally well at the top of the order for Tasmania and hopefully he can bring that to the Test arena. I think he's going to complement Uzzie [Usman Khawaja] pretty well up top."

The versatility theme extended to Cameron Green's shift to No.6, with Marnus Labuschagne reclaiming No.3. Smith himself has gone back to No.4 after a brief stint at the top. Green was the third-highest run scorer in the Test series against West Indies with 184 runs including a 50 and two crucial 40s but Smith said the all-rounder's dual role made the middle-order a better fit for now.

"I think we're pretty versatile with our order and the way we can go about it. And Green, he obviously played exceptionally well at three in some tough conditions in the West Indies. But with him bowling as well and taking that load, we feel that six is a good position for him right now. It doesn't mean in the future he's not going to slide up the order. But for right now, number six suits this team."

With no Pat Cummins or Josh Hazelwood for this Test, new-ball bowling is another area where Australia may have to be flexible. Smith remained tight-lipped on who will take the new ball with Mitchell Starc. "We'll see in the morning. Or hopefully maybe [after] two mornings.

"I think on the match-ups we'll run through that and see how it works out. Obviously, we don't have Pat and Josh playing. So some of the other guys bowl similarly to how they bowl as well. So we'll find the right match-ups for the right times as much as we can out in the middle."

Nathan Lyon has recently bowled less overs in Australia compared to what he was usually called upon to do, and Smith said that they would use him according to the match situation. "Nathan, obviously, I think he's done really well out here. He bowls nicely when the wicket's bouncing. So we'll see how the game pans out. We've got obviously four seam options with Greenie [Green] there.

"And then when we see fit, we'll bowl the spin. We might lock him in down one end so the quicks can bowl. And we'll just play the game in front of us."

It all added up to a simple takeaway from the stand-in skipper. That Australia won't rely on fixed, rigid plans. Against a side that thrives on disruption, Smith wants his players to meet Bazball with a flexibility of their own.