19 Nov 2019

Waqar Younis - 'I have a cunning plan'

2:13 pm on 19 November 2019

The great Waqar Younis has provided Pakistan's exciting young pace attack with a blueprint to remove the nigh-on immovable Steve Smith this summer.

Steve Smith bats during the 4th Ashes Test Match between England and Australia at Old Trafford, Manchester on 7th September 2019. Copyright photo: Graham Morris / www.photosport.nz

Photo: Graham Morris/www.cricketpix.com

But he isn't going public, other than to declare even Smith - who averaged a staggering 110.57 from seven digs in the recent Ashes series in England - struggles in certain areas.

Waqar also claimed David Warner was vulnerable and revealed plans to try to expose the star opener during the two-Test series starting in Brisbane on Thursday.

But Pakistan's new bowling coach said the tourists could only unsettle Smith if they were at the very top of their game at the Gabba and Adelaide Oval.

"I would not bowl to him. He's such a good player," Waqar said.

"He's a class act. He's very different to most of the batters around the world.

"He's got his own technique and that really puts you off at times as a bowler. He moves in his crease a lot. He backs his ability, he backs his hand-eye coordination.

"He's a great player without any doubt. It is hard to bowl to him."

Waqar said patience and discipline were the keys to trying to dismiss Smith, who averages 64.56 across his 124 Test innings.

"You have to patient, the way he is. That's what he does. He stays patient, he spends time at the crease, things get easier and then he punishes you," he said.

"Likewise you've got to do a very similar job as a bowler. You've got to stay patient and hit the areas where he struggles and keep it there.

"Don't try too many things because once you try too many things against him, he gets to you. He knows how to handle all that."

Waqar understandably was unwilling to nominate specifically where he thought Smith struggled, but said Warner - who averaged only 9.5 from 10 Ashes digs - offered opposing attacks more opportunities.

"He is another class act. Those two in the Australian side are the big pillars. If you get them out, things become a little easier," Waqar said.

"Warner is another one who's technically different to Smith.

"But he's very attacking and he'll always provide you with an opportunity so we'll be hoping he'll be vulnerable to the new ball if we get it right. We've seen it in the Ashes that if you bowl certain ways to him in the Ashes, he has struggled.

"So we'll try and expose that."

-AAP