Steve Smith Prepares for World Test Championship Final Against South Africa

Smith's Focus on Preparation Ahead of the Final

London [UK], June 8: Australian cricket star Steve Smith has shared insights into his recent decision to take a break from batting after retiring from ODIs. As he gears up for his team's title defense in the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's, Smith is eager to showcase his skills once again.

At 36 years old, Smith stepped back from ODIs following his team's semifinal performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He aims to maintain his impressive form in Test cricket, hoping to score another century during the championship match on June 11. After a century in the 2023 WTC final against India, Smith faced a brief struggle for runs but regained his form during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, achieving four centuries in his last five Tests.

While some teammates participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and others played in English county matches to adapt to the conditions, Smith took a different approach. He spent time in New York before returning to practice, expressing his readiness to the Australian coach Andrew McDonald, saying, 'Can we play tomorrow? I'm ready to go.'

Despite the Australian team's trust in players to manage their own preparations, it was unusual for Smith to be away from his bat for an extended period. Known for his dedication to practice, he made a conscious choice to step back for a while. Recently, he worked with a personal trainer in America to enhance his fitness, feeling as strong as he did in 2014, with improved hip mobility aiding his slip catching.

Smith remarked, 'I usually have a bat nearby for shadow batting, but I decided to let it go for a bit. It was refreshing.' He hadn't hit a ball since missing a full toss from Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy but felt everything fell into place quickly upon returning to practice. 'I feel like I'm moving well and ready to get started,' he added.

Historically, Smith's first practice session is often good, followed by a poor second session, but this time both were strong, leaving him hopeful that he wouldn't need extensive net time afterward. With a Test average of 56.01 in England, including 12 centuries, he scored 121 against India in the WTC 2023 finals. His average at Lord's rises to 58.33, and he previously scored a century during the 2023 Ashes at the venue.

During initial training at Beckenham, Smith noted the extra bounce from the center wicket, likening it to playing at Perth Stadium. He anticipates different conditions when the team shifts preparations to Lord's on Sunday, stating, 'I play a lot of back foot shots here and try to score square of the wicket, which suits my style. I hope to continue where I left off in the last couple of Tests against Sri Lanka.'

After a remarkable century at Lord's during the 2023 Ashes, Smith faced a long wait for his next century, struggling to find form and even facing calls for his exclusion from the team. This period marked the longest gap without a century in his Test career, partly due to his transition to the opening position after David Warner's retirement. However, once he returned to a lower batting order, he felt liberated, achieving four centuries in eight innings against India and Sri Lanka.

Reflecting on his performance during the Adelaide Test against India last year, where he scored just two runs, Smith acknowledged that it was a rare moment of scrutiny. 'I feel like I've been in the team for a while without much pressure, but after Adelaide, I was eager to score well in Brisbane,' he explained.

Smith has adopted a more measured approach to training, influenced by a conversation with Michael Hussey. 'As we age, it's crucial to maintain mental sharpness for key moments without exhausting ourselves in practice. I need to feel prepared but also recognize that the mental aspect can become more challenging with age,' he noted.

Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, Australia aims to retain the championship title they won against India in the previous World Test Championship Final. Meanwhile, South Africa, led by Temba Bavuma, is determined to secure their first ICC trophy in over 20 years.

Australia's squad includes Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, and Matt Kuhnemann, with Brendan Doggett as a traveling reserve.