Australian cricket star Steve Smith revealed he deliberately avoided batting practice after his ODI retirement to give himself a mental break ahead of Australia's ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's on June 11. The 36-year-old, who retired from ODIs following the 2025 Champions Trophy semifinals, discussed his preparation methods and recent form as he aims to help Australia defend their Test championship title.
Smith spent time in New York focusing on fitness rather than joining teammates who were playing in the IPL or English county cricket. He only recently returned to batting practice, telling coach Andrew McDonald he was ready to play immediately.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! His decision to stay away from cricket was unusual for someone known for constant practice and shadow batting. During his time in America, Smith worked with a personal trainer on a new fitness regime, reporting that he feels as strong as he did in 2014 with improved hip mobility for slip catching.
"I would normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting and stuff. But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while. It was good," Smith said.
"I had not hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy. Fortunately, everything sort of clicked into place immediately. I feel like I am moving really well, I feel strong and just ready to get into it now."
"Normally how it works is my first hit is good, my second hit is awful, and then I would get better from there. But both hits were just really good and I was like, hopefully it does not turn around now and I do not have to spend hours in the nets the next couple of days," he continued.
Smith's record in England is impressive, with a Test average of 56.01 and 12 centuries. At Lord's specifically, he averages 58.33 and scored a century in his last appearance during the 2023 Ashes. The Australian batsman noted the extra bounce at their training facility in Beckenham, comparing it to Perth stadium conditions. He expects different conditions when they move to Lord's for final preparations.
"I play a lot of back foot shots here, I do not tend to get too far forward to the ball. I try and score really square of the wicket. It kind of just suits me in a way. Hopefully can kick off where I left off the last couple of Tests that we played (in Sri Lanka)," Smith said.
After his 2023 Ashes century at Lord's, Smith experienced his longest century drought in Test cricket, waiting 23 innings for his next hundred. His form improved after moving down the order from the opening position, scoring four centuries in eight innings against India and Sri Lanka.
"I feel like I have been in the team for a while and I have not felt under a great deal of pressure. Maybe a little bit after Adelaide last year was the most I have felt. And maybe [that's] why I came out the next game and was really, really hungry to get a good score in Brisbane. But that was external talk and things cross my desk all the time. People send me things that people are saying. So I do not know, maybe something clicked in me and I wanted to get back to the position of being a bit more comfortable again," he said.
"We are a bit older, we have hit a lot of balls. It is about having that mental side as switched on as it can be for the big moments. And you do not want to use up all your energy in the nets. There is a fine balance, of course. I am someone that needs to feel really prepared. And I do not want to leave any stone unturned in my preparation so that when I go to the middle, I am ready to play," Smith explained.
"But I have also got to realise that the older you get, the mental side I think probably wears a little bit thinner on you. And you have got to try and be in the best space you can be in the middle to bat for long periods of time. Sometimes I might get the balance wrong. But when you are hitting the ball well, you can sort of do what you want in terms of your preparation in a way. You can just let it be and trust that when you get to the middle, it is all going to be okay," he concluded.
The Australian team, led by Pat Cummins, will face South Africa, captained by Temba Bavuma, in the World Test Championship Final. Australia aims to retain their title while South Africa seeks their first ICC trophy in over 20 years.
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less
Start a Conversation
Post comment