After former Test wicketkeeper Ian Healy said that the Baggy Greens’ batting had declined while his friend Michael Di Venuto was batting coach, Australia’s Steve Smith is defending Di Venuto. Healy’s claim came after the Australian team’s top order regressed.
Smith is with the Australian team for the second Test against the West Indies in Grenada. He missed the first game because he dislocated his finger in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s.
In the first Test, Australia missed Smith in the middle order on Kensington Oval’s pitch, which troubled the batters. The WTC 2025 finalists were struggling at 22/3 in the first innings and 65/4 in the second.
Healy told SEN Radio, The batting head coach for Australian cricket and every state batting coach need to be under pressure because the nation isn’t scoring enough runs. The Sydney Morning Herald quoted him.
He added, Michael Di Venuto is a friend of mine, a good coach, and a good man. He has held the job since mid-2021. Since then, our national team’s batting performance at the Test level has declined. The performance is all that matters to me. I don’t mind how you do it or what makes it easier for you, just do it.
Smith disagreed with Healy’s about Di Venuto. He thinks the batting coach has done a wonderful job since starting in 2021. Smith believes it is up to the players to perform on the field, not Di Venuto.
Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald, I completely disagree with any about ‘Diva’. He puts in a lot of effort than anyone. He knows everything there is to know about batting. He has watched cricket all over the world. He has done a wonderful job for a while, and the guys enjoy working with him.
He added, He’s not the one that is batting. In the middle, the guys have to be able to figure it out. You can’t always have someone holding your hand out there.
After winning the first Test by 159 runs easily to take a 1-0 lead, Australia will try to take an unbeatable lead in the three-game series. The second game is scheduled to start on Thursday.