In Good Conscience

The free-flowering magic of Schooling, Smith and Ibrahimovic

Australian batsman Steve Smith (in action against England in the first Ashes Test on Aug 1 at Edgbaston, Birmingham) is obsessive and quirky. Before every ball, he twitches, fidgets and tucks at his apparel like a bear scratching himself.
Australian batsman Steve Smith (in action against England in the first Ashes Test on Aug 1 at Edgbaston, Birmingham) is obsessive and quirky. Before every ball, he twitches, fidgets and tucks at his apparel like a bear scratching himself. PHOTO: REUTERS
  • Published
    Aug 10, 2019, 5:00 am SGT
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Whoever created and named an orchid Dendrobium Joseph Schooling, describing it as "a robust and free-flowering hybrid" was onto something.

Many people have tried to analyse and explain Schooling's pre-eminence in the pool, and even his own mother, May, suggested that 10 per cent of it is talent, the rest is hard graft and training.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 10, 2019, with the headline 'The free-flowering magic of Schooling, Smith and Ibrahimovic'. Subscribe
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