Former Australian leg spinner Shane Warne spent some time on Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) explaining his art and tricks of the trade to upcoming leg spinner Steven Smith, who has been retained in the national squad despite not featuring in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.
Smith is being seen as incumbent spinner Nathan Hauritz’s heir apparent.
The retired Warne organised a break from his Channel Nine commentary responsibilities to give the blond 20-year-old a 45-minute clinic.
While it was officially a closed training session, the presence of Australia's most prolific wicket-taker attracted a decent crowd to the public viewing area above the MCG nets.
The spin king's first diagnosis was that the inexperienced New South Welshman was losing momentum during his approach to the crease and was too tentative through his bowling stride, when the process needed to be smooth from start to finish - like a golfer when putting, Warne explained.
Warne also said Smith was spinning the ball down when releasing it - giving it a flat trajectory - rather than letting it loop higher after it left his hand. The young leg spinner was also reminded of the importance of lifting his back leg high and swivelling on his front foot at the end of the delivery, to continue the momentum generated by his action.
Smith bowled during the session to Australian strength and conditioning coach Stuart Karppinen, a former first-class cricketer for Tasmania, and noticeably improved his flight as the session progressed, the Daily Twelegraph reports.
