Observing Virat Kohli helped Steve Smith play better against spin

New Delhi, Feb 23: Australia captain Steve Smith is number one ranked batsman in Tests but the right-handed batsman, who has achieved second highest ratings after Sir Don Bradman in ICC Test rankings, never shies away from learning from the best.

Just like Smith, his Indian counterpart, Virat Kohli, has also been in an imperious form and breaking record after record across every format. However, Kohli has been scoring runs in the limited-overs cricket like no one else. The Indian skipper has already slammed 35 centuries in the ODIs in just 200 innings.

Apart from these two, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and England Test captain Joe are also hailed as the Modern Masters for the brand of cricket they are playing.

As per Smith, he always tries to learn from the best in the game that helps him improve his cricket. The 28-year-old cricketer, who was last week honoured with Allan Border Medal as Australia's foremost men's cricketer across all formats, said he keenly observes at the best players around the world and try to learn something from them.

Smith told cricket.com.au, "I look at some of the best players around the world and sometimes I do try and bat like them."

"I just try and learn, and these guys are the best players in the world for a reason. So you try and get whatever you can out of them."

Revealing what he learnt from the Indian skipper, with whom he may not have had the best of relations, on how to tackle spin.

"Little bit of Virat and the way he plays spin, his hands and the way he hits the ball through the off-side. Probably learnt a little bit out of that. I just try and learn. These guys are best players in the world for a reason. You try and get whatever you can out of them," said Smith.

Smith was the highest-scorer when Australia toured India last year for the four-match Test series. The skipper slammed two centuries against No. 1 ranked Indian side in their own backyard and countered spinners better than Kohli.

"In places like India, for instance, I open my hands up a little bit," Smith added further.

"I don't feel that I can get nicked off (caught behind the wicket) quite as easily in India as opposed to somewhere like Australia or South Africa."

The right-handed batsman also revealed that he learnt a few tricks from South African star AB de Villiers and Williamson.

"I've copied a bit of what AB de Villiers does. The way I go back and across to open myself up and set myself for the shots. More so when the ball is reversing."

"A few years ago I tried to bat like Kane Williamson and play the ball really late," said the Australian captain.