5 batsmen who could better Brian Lara's 400 in Tests

#3 Steve Smith

The Aussie skipper’s unorthodox batting technique combined with his footwork and hand-eye coordination gives him a very good chance of breaking Lara’s record

Australia have been going through a phase of decline this year but their skipper Steve Smith, who is currently the No. 1 ranked Test batsman in the world, has produced some brilliant performances with the bat in the past couple of years.

After a brilliant 2014-15 season where he was named both “ICC Cricketer of the Year” and “ICC Test Cricketer of the Year”, Smith has had a good 2015-16 season as well, scoring 914 runs at an impressive average of 60.93 and a strike rate of 57.44.

Smith began 2016 brilliantly, with scores of 71, 138, and 53 in Australia’s Tour of Wellington at the start of the year which was followed by a few decent performances in Australia’s disastrous Tour of Sri Lanka. After racking up some runs in the Test series against South Africa, Smith performed brilliantly in the first Test against Pakistan scoring a sensational 130 in the first innings and a steady 70-ball 63 in the second innings.

Smith’s biggest weapon in his arsenal is his unorthodox batting stance taking which he moves around the crease and controls the bat with his bottom hand which is closest to the blade of the bat. This stance makes it possible for Smith to play almost every shot in the book, including unconventional shots like the reverse sweep from even quicker deliveries.

While his unorthodox batting technique makes it possible for him to score quickly, his solid footwork and hand-eye coordination makes it possible for him to play elegant shots and also save his wicket. If Smith can find a proper blend of his attributes, then he could be a nightmare for any bowler.