Australia’s talismanic batter Steve Smith is preparing to take on South Africa’s strong pace attack in the coming World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s. The 36-year-old Smith comes into the final refreshed, composed, and ready to play his best cricket a version of himself that has been missing for some time now. This fresh energy is after he took a rare but intentional break from cricket.
In the wake of Australia’s semi-final defeat in the Champions Trophy, Smith effectively retired from One Day Internationals (ODIs). Rather than immediately plunging into Test preparations, he took a break of more than two months, visiting New York and going without a bat in his hand a planned reboot.
“I’d normally have a bat laying around the house, doing a bit of shadow batting without even realising,” Smith said in London this week. “But I made a decision to put it away. I didn’t touch a bat until our first hit here.”
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“My first hit felt strangely good,” he said. “Usually it goes: good, awful, then I find rhythm. But both sessions were really solid. Everything just clicked into place.”
Famous for his diligent practice routines, this hiatus was an unusual departure for Smith, but it obviously paid dividends. When he resumed the crease, everything seemed to be second nature too second nature. The hiatus was not the only factor in his comeback; Smith also adopted a new fitness regime, working with a private coach in New York to enhance his power and flexibility.
“I feel as strong as I’ve been since maybe 2014,” he said. “My hips are in great shape, I’m getting lower – that’ll help in the slips too. It’s probably the best I’ve felt physically in years.”
“I still feel like I could open,” he said. “But I didn’t do it fabulously in the four games I had. These days, anyone in the top four could be in inside an over anyway.”
“I’ve hit so many balls over my career,” he said. “It’s like riding a bike, I suppose.” And right now, the wheels are turning smoothly.”
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Steve Smith has scored 4 centuries in 5 Test matches and he will come in to bat at his preferred No. 4 spot, with Cameron Green at No. 3 and Marnus Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja. Smith did open briefly earlier this season when David Warner retired, but it wasn’t exactly suited to him. Settled nicely in the middle order now, Smith seems set to be one of the key support pillars as Australia looks to retain their WTC title.
Against South Africa’s powerful bowling unit, spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada, particularly in the seaming conditions at Lord’s, it will be a tough examination. But Smith has a quiet confidence – not out of habit but out of a clear and refreshed mind.
