By Will Macpherson
Steve Smith hopes that, starting with the perfect preparation in a three-match stint for Sussex, he is embarking on a tour of England even more run-drenched than his last, in 2019, that leads to ticking an item off his “bucket list” by winning the Ashes away from home.
The great Australian batsman has arrived for a fourth – and, he accepts, likely final – Ashes summer in England, which got off to the worst possible start in the Hove nets on Monday when he was bowled leaving a ball from Ollie Robinson – a teammate now and opponent later – in the nets.
Smith was in genial form as he was unveiled at Hove, but he is aware of the divisive nature of his signing. Sussex’s decision – which their head coach Paul Farbrace described as “very easy” – has been criticised in some quarters, with the English game accused of giving their fiercest rivals a leg-up in a manner that is never reciprocated. In his third and final match, he will be up against Marnus Labuschagne’s Glamorgan.
“I’ve seen a lot of talk about getting used to conditions but you’ve got to remember I’ve played a lot of cricket in England before, so conditions aren’t really new to me,” he said.
Smith, who turns 34 next month, first played Test cricket in England in 2013 and has six centuries, and an average of 59.6 – a tick below his career figure of 59.8 – in 16 matches on these shores, and very little is new to him. That said, he accepts that the conditions are unique, and Australia have not adapted well enough to them in recent times. These three matches provide a head start.
“The conditions, the wicket sometimes, the Dukes ball is obviously different to the Kookaburra back home,” he said. “The sun or clouds change it; you’ve got to be able to adapt. We probably haven’t adapted well enough when we’ve been over for the last 20 years.”
Steve Smith poses at Sussex’s 1st Central County Ground this week.Credit: Getty
Smith’s 2019 will take some topping, but he is in bullish mood. Then, playing his first Tests since his year-long ban for his part in the sandpaper scandal of 2018, he made an extraordinary 774 runs, including three hundreds, despite fearful stick from the crowds and missing the unforgettable third Test at Headingley with concussion. His contributions led to Australia retaining the urn on English soil for the first time since 2001, but the series was drawn.
“I hope so,” he said, when asked if he could score more runs than that series. “That’s the plan. I’ve got a lot of fond memories from 2019 and the way I played and I’d love to replicate that and do something similar.
“It would be a huge one to tick off the bucket list. We haven’t been able to do it but we got close last time and were unable to get over the line. It’s certainly something that would be high up on my bucket list and everyone else in the team as well.”
For what it is worth, Smith says he would have “absolutely no dramas whatsoever” if his New South Wales side were to sign Joe Root for a Sheffield Shield stint just before an Ashes.
Steve Smith receives medical assistance after being hit in the neck by Jofra Archer at Lord’s in 2019. He left the field but returned to bat once Peter Siddle was dismissed.Credit: AP
His spell with Sussex also gives him a detailed look at Robinson, who has provided some punchy Ashes predictions about giving the Australians a “good hiding”.
“Ollie bowled to me yesterday,” he said. “I left one third ball and he knocked me over so that wasn’t ideal. But I was impressed with him when he was out in Australia [in 2021/22]. I thought he had some really good skills. He’s quite tall, he hit some good areas and looks like he’s got better since then. So I’m looking forward to playing with him this week, seeing how he goes. He’s obviously an exciting prospect for England with the skills he possesses.”
Nevertheless, Smith was at pains to highlight that his spell on the south coast was about experiencing the Championship and passing on knowledge to young players, such as a top three of Tom Haines, Ali Orr and Tom Alsop. He has been in the nets with them already, despite only arriving in the country over the long weekend.
He will make his first appearance in the County Championship on Thursday, when he slots in at No.5 for Sussex at Worcester (where he played a handful of T20s in 2010, before his Test debut). He joked that he has not “been that low [in the order] for a while”, but Sussex’s captain Cheteshwar Pujara – another who will be an opponent this summer, with India in the World Test Championship final – bats in his usual No.4 slot.
Smith will play three matches for Sussex leading into the Ashes.Credit: Getty
“A window opened up and it’s something I’ve never done and have always wanted to do, so the stars aligned in a way,” said Smith, who chose not to enter the Indian Premier League auction.
“Hopefully I can do some really good things the next few weeks and people are just able to watch me and how I go about it. Hopefully, that’s enough for them but I’m also here to talk if anyone wants to talk any cricket. I love the game and if any of the batters want to talk any cricket with me, I’m all ears and I’ll help them in any way I can.
“I’ll bat No.5. Hopefully the boys can pile them on and I’ll come in on the back of them. It’s going to be exciting. I’ve played a lot against Pujara, watched him churn out plenty of runs. So it’d be nice to spend some time in the middle with him and put a few good partnerships together.”
Smith has taken note of England’s style of play since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over 12 months ago, and predicts a “terrific” series. But, as he always does, he will be staying in his bubble, not getting caught up in “Bazball”, even if he is a bit surprised Stokes has ordered “flat, fast” pitches.
“As a batter, you generally like playing on flatter wickets,” he said. “I’ll probably play just my game, which I think has always been going up and down in the gears, putting pressure on the bowlers when I can and absorbing pressure when I need to as well. I don’t think I’ll go into anything too rash and do what I’ve done throughout my career and not shy away from that too much.”
Telegraph, London
