Australian batsman Steve Smith is no stranger to the ups and downs of international cricket. After enduring a quiet 18-month spell without big runs, Smith has returned in remarkable form, hitting two Test centuries in a week against INDIA. His return to the century list, however, was not simply to break the drought.
Smith scored his 33rd Test earlier in Brisbane during the Third Test. However, during the ongoing Test at the MCG, he equalised Sunil Gavaskarrecord of 34 test centuries.
“Out of the running, but not out of shape”
When asked about the struggles that have led to his recent success, Smith shared some candid insights into his thoughts. Despite scoring some big goals recently, he never lost faith in his ability.
Watch: Virat Kohli confronts booing Australian fans after being dismissed during 4th Test at MCG
“Sometimes you can hit the ball pretty well, which I think I told everybody when I wasn't scoring runs. I actually felt like I was hitting pretty good,” he said, reflecting on his mindset during practice. patch.
Smith pointed out that there is a clear difference between being “out of form” and simply being “no runs”. He went on to elaborate: “I thought I was hitting the ball beautifully. You have to have faith. You have to have some faith in what you are trying to do. I've played the game long enough to know you can have your ups and downs. Having faith and trust is the key.”
The role of patience and luck
While Smith admitted that luck plays a role in scoring big runs, he was quick to stress the importance of patience. “I think you need a lot of luck on these wickets to get big runs. And last week I had my fair share. I think I got a call from the umpire and got beaten on a lot of occasions. On other days, I would have neglected,” he said, pointing out that luck and skill go hand in hand in cricket.
But Smith was quick to add that he never lost faith in himself. “You just have to have faith that you're going to get it back,” he said. This helped Smith finally break free from his dry spell, much to the relief of Australian fans.
Appreciating Cummins' intent
Smith's century partnership with the captain Pat Cummins was another bright spot in Australia's second day performance. Resuming their innings at 311 for six, the Australian duo displayed positive, aggressive cricket, gaining decisive momentum. “There wasn't really an overall plan. It was just going out there and playing. Yeah, there wasn't a real plan,” Smith explained. “It was just going out and playing and seeing what happens.”
Smith praised Cummins for his “really good, positive aim”. Their partnership paid off Australia momentum to push India into defence. “We were able to form a good partnership together and get some momentum into the game,” Smith added.
Stay updated with all the cricket action, follow Cricadium IN WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, telegramAND Instagram
Source link