Australian batting legend Steve Smith is preparing for another Ashes campaign. After a brief hiatus in New York following his spell in The Hundred, Smith returned to Sydney and wasted no time getting back into the groove. Pat Cummins is fighting against time to recover from a back injury, so Smith will captain Australia in the first Test, which begins on November 21 in Perth.
Smith’s preparation for the Ashes has been unconventional compared to his previous years. The right-handed batter prioritizes mental strength over heavy batting practice. After returning from New York, Smith underwent throwdowns before facing New South Wales bowlers at Cricket Central. Smith will play two Sheffield Shield games, against Queensland and Victoria, before the Ashes, but he already feels in top form.
“Honestly, it takes me two hits to get sorted. I feel like I’m ready to go now. I feel like I’m moving really nicely. I feel in a good place. I’ve been training quite hard. I’ve been doing a lot of lifting, trying to get a bit stronger. And I did all my strength tests yesterday and they’re all as good as they’ve ever been. So I feel like I’m going good,” Smith said.
Hopefully he can get right: Steve Smith
With Cummins yet to resume bowling, Smith is expected to step in as captain once again. Under his stand-in leadership, Australia have won five of six Tests.
“Things can turn around pretty quickly so we’ll see where everything lands with him. He’s obviously got a few things to tick off and get into his bowling, but he was in good spirits and the team’s obviously better with him in it for sure. Hopefully he can get right and if he plays three Tests or five Tests or two Tests, as many as we can get out of him, it’s the best for the team,” Smith added.
The veteran also downplayed any concerns about Cummins’ absence, expressing confidence in the bowling depth led by Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.
“I mean, we’ve got a pretty good replacement in Scott Boland who I think is arguably one of the best bowlers in the world. His record in Australia is outrageous, so we’re good there. Then the other two [Starc and Hazlewood] obviously have done a wonderful job for a long time as well. So I don’t think it disrupts too much,” he further added.
India
