Is Steve Smith really that good? Why has he  scored so prolifically over the past 14 months? Everyone knew he was a good player, but is he really the No. 4 Test batsmen in the world?

He  deservedly won the Border Medal and no bowler in the world has an answer on where to bowl to him. This week I asked Glenn McGrath on Fairfax Radio where would he bowl to Smith. Surprisingly, McGrath's reply was somewhat measured, but then I got the same answer I often get from Pigeon: "Like to any batsman I bowled to, off stump with the ball hitting the top of off." Normally McGrath doesn't think too much when he talks of batsmen's techniques. But I could tell by his hesitant response that he really had no clue either.

What a rich vein of form Smith is in. Up to October, he had scored 1300 runs from 20 Tests at a moderate average of 38. Now he has amassed more than 2300 runs at a brilliant average of over 52.

It' s a similar story with his batting in one-day internationals. His ODI form had been poor and his batting average hit a rock-bottom 20. Now he averages over 35 with three centuries since then. Since October, Smith has amassed 1636  runs at an average of 87.

Playing Test and ODI cricket hasn't been easy for Smith. He was left out of Test cricket for two years from January 2011 to sort out his technique and then was selected for the India tour in March 2013. He played a few one-day internationals throughout that time but Ricky Ponting and the selectors didn't know what to make of Smith. That was no doubt reflected in the six positions they had him bat, with the No. 7 spot being the most popular. Maybe that's why he failed so often during this period. The captain and selectors kept putting him in the baby chair at six or seven and he played like it. All he wanted was to be given some sort of responsibility and for  selectors to show some faith in him. Now he handles the new ball well and relishes moments when Australia is under pressure.

Smith has always been a great worker on the track and has always had a great work ethic. Having a purple patch doesn't necessarily always come from a great work ethic, but having a great strategy, tactics and confidenceare very important ingredients for success.

Smith was a serial nicker of the ball. So, to counter that, he went about changing his premeditated move to go deeper in the crease towards his off stump. He now has a better understanding of where his off stump is, which is a major plus.

This "new move" is very much an old-fashioned one. Most players of today are front-foot merchants. Players such as Don Bradman, Brian Lara, Ian Chappell, Garry Sobers and Steve Waugh also loved to move back and across before ball release.

This move gives Smith more time and creates more options to play his shots. It also creates better bat planes and, more importantly, also allows him to play late. Smith seems to make better choices at which ball to defend and which to attack. It also stops him from getting hit on the pads, a major flaw in past years.

This new move can be adaptable depending on what type of pitch Smith is playing. For example, If it is a flat belter (which most of them have been throughout the summer), Smith will move a long way across his stumps. When it's swinging and seaming, he moves less. No doubt finding more time to play the ball has created a tighter defence. His defensive skills - forward defence, back defence and leaving the ball alone - are in great order. Smith looks like he enjoys keeping good balls out, as he seems to enjoy his defensive play as much as his attacking play.

Smith had a major sync problem with his last tap of the bat. This is very similar to what Shane Watson is dealing with. The last tap of his bat made Smith feel his bat and hands were a distance away from his body and caused his head to fall to cover. Now Smith holds the bat high and resists the urge to tap his bat and this has worked miracles for him.

Smith will not allow a bowler to work on him. He is one of the best players at  moving fieldsmen around to positions where he wants them. His favourite place to get a single when under pressure is on the leg side, particularly down to fine leg.

He is a quick learner on what shots suit each pitch.He reads the pitch and conditions better than most. He can flip his game and technique to whatever the situation demands. A lot of players don't have this skill. M.S. Dhoni is the best I have seen and Glenn Maxwell the worst.

Smith loves training and has a tendency to hit too many balls. Coach Darren Lehmann is watchful of this and to keep his hunger for the middle of the ground and not the nets.

Smith has matured nicely, from a guy who used to throw the toys out of the cot when just being dismissed, to a guy who is mindful of others around him.  Cricket Australia heavies have been most impressed with him on and off the field. His captaincy skills have been good this summer and will get better. No doubt this has put Michael Clarke under some pressure. Clarke realises if anything goes wrong, Cricket Australia will move the baton on without hesitation.

Some people still find it hard to watch Smith. He is a persistent fiddler and never seems to keep still. One thing for sure is that he is hard to bowl to and Australia has found a very dependable batsman, as well as their new skipper.

With an Ashes series looming, England have been studying Smith's technique. No doubt they tried some different things when he played against them at Bellerive last week. No doubt they have noticed that Smith's good length is different to other Australian batsmen. They realised they must pitch the ball up and entice him to get onto the front foot and work on his front pad. Sadly for them, they found it very difficult as the pitch was very flat and it was hard to find any movement off the seam.

England realise that Australia have a new run machine and winning the Ashes has become more difficult. If I had my time again as a batsman I would definitely copy the Smith approach.