'Can we play tomorrow?': Aussie star geared up for WTC
Not that long ago, putting the bat away for three months would have been unthinkable for Steve Smith.
But that is what the star batter did after Australia were eliminated from the Champions Trophy in March, the semi-final ending up being the last game of his ODI career.
A meticulous trainer, Smith used to need to hit hundreds of balls in the nets to feel ready to perform.
Coming off a golden summer, however, the 36-year-old has taken a minimalist approach to Australia's bid to win consecutive World Test Championship finals.
"I feel the first two hits have been really good," a relaxed Smith said in London.
"I walked out of my first hit and told 'Ron' (Australia coach Andrew McDonald) straight away, 'can we play tomorrow? I'm ready to go'.
"I hadn't hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy.
"I've hit so many balls over my career, what do they say, it's like riding a bike, I suppose, in a way."
As he often does, Smith spent his downtime in his second home of New York.
In the 'Big Apple', the 116-Test wonder linked up with a personal trainer that pushed him to his limits.
"I feel as strong as I've probably been since maybe 2014," said Smith, who has scored four centuries from his last five Tests.
"I feel like my hips are probably as good as they've been in a long time.
"I feel like I'm getting a lot lower which I think will benefit me in the slips potentially.
"I made sure my bat was away (in New York).
"I had my golf clubs out and I was using them a little bit.
"I'd normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting.
"But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while and it was good."
Smith is certain to bat at No.4 against South Africa in the WTC final at Lord's, even with Cameron Green set to return for his first Test in more than a year.
When Green was promoted up the order following David Warner's retirement in January 2024, Smith shifted up to open for four Tests.
But Green's serious back injury ahead of last summer meant Smith went back to No.4.
Marnus Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja, while Green goes in at No.3 is an option selectors are toying with.
"I still feel like I could open the batting," Smith said.
"I didn't do it fabulously for the four games that I did.
"It's a tricky place to bat at the moment.
"Anyone that bats in the top four, you could be in inside two overs or an over.
"(Labuschagne) has batted three for a long time.
"He's been in the first over on a few occasions playing for Australia. He's opened in Shield cricket when he first started ... there's honestly not a huge difference."
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
Not that long ago, putting the bat away for three months would have been unthinkable for Steve Smith.
But that is what the star batter did after Australia were eliminated from the Champions Trophy in March, the semi-final ending up being the last game of his ODI career.
A meticulous trainer, Smith used to need to hit hundreds of balls in the nets to feel ready to perform.
Coming off a golden summer, however, the 36-year-old has taken a minimalist approach to Australia's bid to win consecutive World Test Championship finals.
"I feel the first two hits have been really good," a relaxed Smith said in London.
"I walked out of my first hit and told 'Ron' (Australia coach Andrew McDonald) straight away, 'can we play tomorrow? I'm ready to go'.
"I hadn't hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy.
"I've hit so many balls over my career, what do they say, it's like riding a bike, I suppose, in a way."
As he often does, Smith spent his downtime in his second home of New York.
In the 'Big Apple', the 116-Test wonder linked up with a personal trainer that pushed him to his limits.
"I feel as strong as I've probably been since maybe 2014," said Smith, who has scored four centuries from his last five Tests.
"I feel like my hips are probably as good as they've been in a long time.
"I feel like I'm getting a lot lower which I think will benefit me in the slips potentially.
"I made sure my bat was away (in New York).
"I had my golf clubs out and I was using them a little bit.
"I'd normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting.
"But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while and it was good."
Smith is certain to bat at No.4 against South Africa in the WTC final at Lord's, even with Cameron Green set to return for his first Test in more than a year.
When Green was promoted up the order following David Warner's retirement in January 2024, Smith shifted up to open for four Tests.
But Green's serious back injury ahead of last summer meant Smith went back to No.4.
Marnus Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja, while Green goes in at No.3 is an option selectors are toying with.
"I still feel like I could open the batting," Smith said.
"I didn't do it fabulously for the four games that I did.
"It's a tricky place to bat at the moment.
"Anyone that bats in the top four, you could be in inside two overs or an over.
"(Labuschagne) has batted three for a long time.
"He's been in the first over on a few occasions playing for Australia. He's opened in Shield cricket when he first started ... there's honestly not a huge difference."
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
Not that long ago, putting the bat away for three months would have been unthinkable for Steve Smith.
But that is what the star batter did after Australia were eliminated from the Champions Trophy in March, the semi-final ending up being the last game of his ODI career.
A meticulous trainer, Smith used to need to hit hundreds of balls in the nets to feel ready to perform.
Coming off a golden summer, however, the 36-year-old has taken a minimalist approach to Australia's bid to win consecutive World Test Championship finals.
"I feel the first two hits have been really good," a relaxed Smith said in London.
"I walked out of my first hit and told 'Ron' (Australia coach Andrew McDonald) straight away, 'can we play tomorrow? I'm ready to go'.
"I hadn't hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy.
"I've hit so many balls over my career, what do they say, it's like riding a bike, I suppose, in a way."
As he often does, Smith spent his downtime in his second home of New York.
In the 'Big Apple', the 116-Test wonder linked up with a personal trainer that pushed him to his limits.
"I feel as strong as I've probably been since maybe 2014," said Smith, who has scored four centuries from his last five Tests.
"I feel like my hips are probably as good as they've been in a long time.
"I feel like I'm getting a lot lower which I think will benefit me in the slips potentially.
"I made sure my bat was away (in New York).
"I had my golf clubs out and I was using them a little bit.
"I'd normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting.
"But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while and it was good."
Smith is certain to bat at No.4 against South Africa in the WTC final at Lord's, even with Cameron Green set to return for his first Test in more than a year.
When Green was promoted up the order following David Warner's retirement in January 2024, Smith shifted up to open for four Tests.
But Green's serious back injury ahead of last summer meant Smith went back to No.4.
Marnus Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja, while Green goes in at No.3 is an option selectors are toying with.
"I still feel like I could open the batting," Smith said.
"I didn't do it fabulously for the four games that I did.
"It's a tricky place to bat at the moment.
"Anyone that bats in the top four, you could be in inside two overs or an over.
"(Labuschagne) has batted three for a long time.
"He's been in the first over on a few occasions playing for Australia. He's opened in Shield cricket when he first started ... there's honestly not a huge difference."
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Injured Huni counts cost of world title near-miss
Justis Huni faces more surgery and a long road back to the heavyweight summit after a cruel 10th-round knockout robbed him of one of Australian boxing's great triumphs. The Brisbane heavyweight's valiant bid for the WBA interim world title was ended in devastating fashion by English star and favourite Fabio Wardley on Sunday morning (AEST). The 26-year-old had stepped in on five weeks' notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller, and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Indeed, two judges had Huni ahead 89-82 and a third had scored the fight 88-83 through nine rounds before Wardley's "one-in-1000 punch" sent Huni to the canvas. Huni was soon back on his feet and looked steady, but English referee John Latham was quick to wave the Australian away and leave his camp furious. Huni, who fell to 12-1, still collected a rumoured sum of about $1 million. But it's now Wardley (18-0) in the box seat as the primary challenger to the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois's undisputed title fight in July. Manager Mick Francis believed his man wasn't given the full 10-count, and also revealed Huni had battled nerve pain in his surgically repaired elbow in the week of the fight. But Francis told AAP an official protest would amount to little and that Huni would likely need surgery to correct the issue before considering his return to the summit. "Pretty disappointed in how quickly the referee waved it off," Francis told AAP. "Justis won a lot of fans and was putting on a clinic, but he walked into a one-in-1000 punch and what's done is done now. "He was always up against it; they were looking for any excuse to give (Wardley) the fight. "Considering he's been stopped (by a knockout) it doesn't help things. "Justis probably needs six months to himself, then it's maybe three, four more fights (to be back in a similar position).'' Boasting a glittering amateur career, including World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. Huni insisted he hadn't flown more than "10,000 miles" not to try to cause an upset, and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed left the Briton looking completely lost. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," a gracious Huni told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. "He's a great boxer, some great skills, and he showed me everything he had tonight." Justis Huni faces more surgery and a long road back to the heavyweight summit after a cruel 10th-round knockout robbed him of one of Australian boxing's great triumphs. The Brisbane heavyweight's valiant bid for the WBA interim world title was ended in devastating fashion by English star and favourite Fabio Wardley on Sunday morning (AEST). The 26-year-old had stepped in on five weeks' notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller, and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Indeed, two judges had Huni ahead 89-82 and a third had scored the fight 88-83 through nine rounds before Wardley's "one-in-1000 punch" sent Huni to the canvas. Huni was soon back on his feet and looked steady, but English referee John Latham was quick to wave the Australian away and leave his camp furious. Huni, who fell to 12-1, still collected a rumoured sum of about $1 million. But it's now Wardley (18-0) in the box seat as the primary challenger to the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois's undisputed title fight in July. Manager Mick Francis believed his man wasn't given the full 10-count, and also revealed Huni had battled nerve pain in his surgically repaired elbow in the week of the fight. But Francis told AAP an official protest would amount to little and that Huni would likely need surgery to correct the issue before considering his return to the summit. "Pretty disappointed in how quickly the referee waved it off," Francis told AAP. "Justis won a lot of fans and was putting on a clinic, but he walked into a one-in-1000 punch and what's done is done now. "He was always up against it; they were looking for any excuse to give (Wardley) the fight. "Considering he's been stopped (by a knockout) it doesn't help things. "Justis probably needs six months to himself, then it's maybe three, four more fights (to be back in a similar position).'' Boasting a glittering amateur career, including World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. Huni insisted he hadn't flown more than "10,000 miles" not to try to cause an upset, and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed left the Briton looking completely lost. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," a gracious Huni told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. "He's a great boxer, some great skills, and he showed me everything he had tonight." Justis Huni faces more surgery and a long road back to the heavyweight summit after a cruel 10th-round knockout robbed him of one of Australian boxing's great triumphs. The Brisbane heavyweight's valiant bid for the WBA interim world title was ended in devastating fashion by English star and favourite Fabio Wardley on Sunday morning (AEST). The 26-year-old had stepped in on five weeks' notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller, and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Indeed, two judges had Huni ahead 89-82 and a third had scored the fight 88-83 through nine rounds before Wardley's "one-in-1000 punch" sent Huni to the canvas. Huni was soon back on his feet and looked steady, but English referee John Latham was quick to wave the Australian away and leave his camp furious. Huni, who fell to 12-1, still collected a rumoured sum of about $1 million. But it's now Wardley (18-0) in the box seat as the primary challenger to the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois's undisputed title fight in July. Manager Mick Francis believed his man wasn't given the full 10-count, and also revealed Huni had battled nerve pain in his surgically repaired elbow in the week of the fight. But Francis told AAP an official protest would amount to little and that Huni would likely need surgery to correct the issue before considering his return to the summit. "Pretty disappointed in how quickly the referee waved it off," Francis told AAP. "Justis won a lot of fans and was putting on a clinic, but he walked into a one-in-1000 punch and what's done is done now. "He was always up against it; they were looking for any excuse to give (Wardley) the fight. "Considering he's been stopped (by a knockout) it doesn't help things. "Justis probably needs six months to himself, then it's maybe three, four more fights (to be back in a similar position).'' Boasting a glittering amateur career, including World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. Huni insisted he hadn't flown more than "10,000 miles" not to try to cause an upset, and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed left the Briton looking completely lost. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," a gracious Huni told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. "He's a great boxer, some great skills, and he showed me everything he had tonight." Justis Huni faces more surgery and a long road back to the heavyweight summit after a cruel 10th-round knockout robbed him of one of Australian boxing's great triumphs. The Brisbane heavyweight's valiant bid for the WBA interim world title was ended in devastating fashion by English star and favourite Fabio Wardley on Sunday morning (AEST). The 26-year-old had stepped in on five weeks' notice to replace injured American fighter Jarrell Miller, and for nine rounds looked in complete control in front of a raucous crowd at Portman Road, the home of Wardley's beloved English soccer team Ipswich Town. Indeed, two judges had Huni ahead 89-82 and a third had scored the fight 88-83 through nine rounds before Wardley's "one-in-1000 punch" sent Huni to the canvas. Huni was soon back on his feet and looked steady, but English referee John Latham was quick to wave the Australian away and leave his camp furious. Huni, who fell to 12-1, still collected a rumoured sum of about $1 million. But it's now Wardley (18-0) in the box seat as the primary challenger to the winner of Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois's undisputed title fight in July. Manager Mick Francis believed his man wasn't given the full 10-count, and also revealed Huni had battled nerve pain in his surgically repaired elbow in the week of the fight. But Francis told AAP an official protest would amount to little and that Huni would likely need surgery to correct the issue before considering his return to the summit. "Pretty disappointed in how quickly the referee waved it off," Francis told AAP. "Justis won a lot of fans and was putting on a clinic, but he walked into a one-in-1000 punch and what's done is done now. "He was always up against it; they were looking for any excuse to give (Wardley) the fight. "Considering he's been stopped (by a knockout) it doesn't help things. "Justis probably needs six months to himself, then it's maybe three, four more fights (to be back in a similar position).'' Boasting a glittering amateur career, including World Championships bronze, Huni looked keen to display his credentials on the big stage. Huni insisted he hadn't flown more than "10,000 miles" not to try to cause an upset, and his stinging right hand, lively footwork and impressive hand speed left the Briton looking completely lost. But it was then that Wardley somehow pulled out a stunning right hand from absolutely nowhere, forcing an astonishing KO and sending his relieved fans into wild celebrations. "That's my curse. I even said before this fight it only takes one second to switch off, it happened tonight," a gracious Huni told DAZN. "I'm grateful to Fabio and his team and to Ipswich to be able to perform in front of you. Get behind him, he's going to do great things. "He's just an awesome fighter. He never gave up and he got the win, he deserves it." Wardley, whose win will boost his WBA ranking with the sanctioning body, was keen to praise the previously unbeaten Aussie. "I don't profess to being any Usyk or Justis Huni who has all the skills, but I know how to win fights and that's one thing I knew I had to do tonight," Wardley said in the ring. "Justis Huni is a great operator. We'd drilled everything over and over again. "He's a great boxer, some great skills, and he showed me everything he had tonight."
7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Shadow batting banished as Steve Smith makes unthinkable change before World Test Championship final
Not that long ago, putting the bat away for three months would have been unthinkable for Steve Smith. But that is what the star batter did after Australia were eliminated from the Champions Trophy in March, the semi-final ending up being the last game of his ODI career. A meticulous trainer, Smith used to need to hit hundreds of balls in the nets to feel ready to perform. Coming off a golden summer, however, the 36-year-old has taken a minimalist approach to Australia's bid to win consecutive World Test Championship finals. 'I feel the first two hits have been really good,' a relaxed Smith said in London. 'I walked out of my first hit and told 'Ron' (Australia coach Andrew McDonald) straight away, 'can we play tomorrow? I'm ready to go'. 'I hadn't hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy. 'I've hit so many balls over my career, what do they say, it's like riding a bike, I suppose, in a way.' As he often does, Smith spent his downtime in his second home of New York. In the 'Big Apple', the 116-Test wonder linked up with a personal trainer that pushed him to his limits. 'I feel as strong as I've probably been since maybe 2014,' said Smith, who has scored four centuries from his last five Tests. 'I feel like my hips are probably as good as they've been in a long time. 'I feel like I'm getting a lot lower which I think will benefit me in the slips potentially. 'I made sure my bat was away (in New York). 'I had my golf clubs out and I was using them a little bit. 'I'd normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting. 'But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while and it was good.' To the delight of fans Smith has famously been caught out by wife Dani, and even teammates, shadow batting in bedrooms and hotel rooms over the years. Smith is certain to bat at No.4 against South Africa in the WTC final at Lord's, even with Cameron Green set to return for his first Test in more than a year. When Green was promoted up the order following David Warner's retirement in January 2024, Smith shifted up to open for four Tests. But Green's serious back injury ahead of last summer meant Smith went back to No.4. Marnus Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja, while Green goes in at No.3 is an option selectors are toying with. 'I still feel like I could open the batting,' Smith said. 'I didn't do it fabulously for the four games that I did. 'It's a tricky place to bat at the moment. 'Anyone that bats in the top four, you could be in inside two overs or an over. '(Labuschagne) has batted three for a long time. 'He's been in the first over on a few occasions playing for Australia. He's opened in Shield cricket when he first started ... there's honestly not a huge difference.'
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Can we play tomorrow?': Aussie star geared up for WTC
Not that long ago, putting the bat away for three months would have been unthinkable for Steve Smith. But that is what the star batter did after Australia were eliminated from the Champions Trophy in March, the semi-final ending up being the last game of his ODI career. A meticulous trainer, Smith used to need to hit hundreds of balls in the nets to feel ready to perform. Coming off a golden summer, however, the 36-year-old has taken a minimalist approach to Australia's bid to win consecutive World Test Championship finals. "I feel the first two hits have been really good," a relaxed Smith said in London. "I walked out of my first hit and told 'Ron' (Australia coach Andrew McDonald) straight away, 'can we play tomorrow? I'm ready to go'. "I hadn't hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy. "I've hit so many balls over my career, what do they say, it's like riding a bike, I suppose, in a way." As he often does, Smith spent his downtime in his second home of New York. In the 'Big Apple', the 116-Test wonder linked up with a personal trainer that pushed him to his limits. "I feel as strong as I've probably been since maybe 2014," said Smith, who has scored four centuries from his last five Tests. "I feel like my hips are probably as good as they've been in a long time. "I feel like I'm getting a lot lower which I think will benefit me in the slips potentially. "I made sure my bat was away (in New York). "I had my golf clubs out and I was using them a little bit. "I'd normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting. "But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while and it was good." Smith is certain to bat at No.4 against South Africa in the WTC final at Lord's, even with Cameron Green set to return for his first Test in more than a year. When Green was promoted up the order following David Warner's retirement in January 2024, Smith shifted up to open for four Tests. But Green's serious back injury ahead of last summer meant Smith went back to No.4. Marnus Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja, while Green goes in at No.3 is an option selectors are toying with. "I still feel like I could open the batting," Smith said. "I didn't do it fabulously for the four games that I did. "It's a tricky place to bat at the moment. "Anyone that bats in the top four, you could be in inside two overs or an over. "(Labuschagne) has batted three for a long time. "He's been in the first over on a few occasions playing for Australia. He's opened in Shield cricket when he first started ... there's honestly not a huge difference." This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. Not that long ago, putting the bat away for three months would have been unthinkable for Steve Smith. But that is what the star batter did after Australia were eliminated from the Champions Trophy in March, the semi-final ending up being the last game of his ODI career. A meticulous trainer, Smith used to need to hit hundreds of balls in the nets to feel ready to perform. Coming off a golden summer, however, the 36-year-old has taken a minimalist approach to Australia's bid to win consecutive World Test Championship finals. "I feel the first two hits have been really good," a relaxed Smith said in London. "I walked out of my first hit and told 'Ron' (Australia coach Andrew McDonald) straight away, 'can we play tomorrow? I'm ready to go'. "I hadn't hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy. "I've hit so many balls over my career, what do they say, it's like riding a bike, I suppose, in a way." As he often does, Smith spent his downtime in his second home of New York. In the 'Big Apple', the 116-Test wonder linked up with a personal trainer that pushed him to his limits. "I feel as strong as I've probably been since maybe 2014," said Smith, who has scored four centuries from his last five Tests. "I feel like my hips are probably as good as they've been in a long time. "I feel like I'm getting a lot lower which I think will benefit me in the slips potentially. "I made sure my bat was away (in New York). "I had my golf clubs out and I was using them a little bit. "I'd normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting. "But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while and it was good." Smith is certain to bat at No.4 against South Africa in the WTC final at Lord's, even with Cameron Green set to return for his first Test in more than a year. When Green was promoted up the order following David Warner's retirement in January 2024, Smith shifted up to open for four Tests. But Green's serious back injury ahead of last summer meant Smith went back to No.4. Marnus Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja, while Green goes in at No.3 is an option selectors are toying with. "I still feel like I could open the batting," Smith said. "I didn't do it fabulously for the four games that I did. "It's a tricky place to bat at the moment. "Anyone that bats in the top four, you could be in inside two overs or an over. "(Labuschagne) has batted three for a long time. "He's been in the first over on a few occasions playing for Australia. He's opened in Shield cricket when he first started ... there's honestly not a huge difference." This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final. Not that long ago, putting the bat away for three months would have been unthinkable for Steve Smith. But that is what the star batter did after Australia were eliminated from the Champions Trophy in March, the semi-final ending up being the last game of his ODI career. A meticulous trainer, Smith used to need to hit hundreds of balls in the nets to feel ready to perform. Coming off a golden summer, however, the 36-year-old has taken a minimalist approach to Australia's bid to win consecutive World Test Championship finals. "I feel the first two hits have been really good," a relaxed Smith said in London. "I walked out of my first hit and told 'Ron' (Australia coach Andrew McDonald) straight away, 'can we play tomorrow? I'm ready to go'. "I hadn't hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy. "I've hit so many balls over my career, what do they say, it's like riding a bike, I suppose, in a way." As he often does, Smith spent his downtime in his second home of New York. In the 'Big Apple', the 116-Test wonder linked up with a personal trainer that pushed him to his limits. "I feel as strong as I've probably been since maybe 2014," said Smith, who has scored four centuries from his last five Tests. "I feel like my hips are probably as good as they've been in a long time. "I feel like I'm getting a lot lower which I think will benefit me in the slips potentially. "I made sure my bat was away (in New York). "I had my golf clubs out and I was using them a little bit. "I'd normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting. "But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while and it was good." Smith is certain to bat at No.4 against South Africa in the WTC final at Lord's, even with Cameron Green set to return for his first Test in more than a year. When Green was promoted up the order following David Warner's retirement in January 2024, Smith shifted up to open for four Tests. But Green's serious back injury ahead of last summer meant Smith went back to No.4. Marnus Labuschagne opening with Usman Khawaja, while Green goes in at No.3 is an option selectors are toying with. "I still feel like I could open the batting," Smith said. "I didn't do it fabulously for the four games that I did. "It's a tricky place to bat at the moment. "Anyone that bats in the top four, you could be in inside two overs or an over. "(Labuschagne) has batted three for a long time. "He's been in the first over on a few occasions playing for Australia. He's opened in Shield cricket when he first started ... there's honestly not a huge difference." This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
