This time of year, following an arduous yet extraordinarily fruitful year for Australian cricket, they prepare for the home summer. Australia’s domestic season will commence with a three-match Test series against Pakistan, and key batsman Steve Smith is determined to establish new standards for batting.
While he has still managed to average 43 runs off 20 innings despite difficult travels to India and England in 2023, it has not been a remarkable year by his standards. However, those figures pale in comparison to the Smith that we have become accustomed to seeing over the years. Notwithstanding the fact that his Test ton totals in 2023 surpassed those of 2022 or 2021. The 34-year-old acknowledged the moderate returns in Tests this season but also avoided overanalyzing the minor setbacks.
“I don’t have to reinvent the wheel. I’ve performed at a high standard for a long period of time,” said Smith. “But you’re right – I was probably below my standards of what I want. For me, it’s about not overthinking it, not overplaying too much, not changing too much. Just going out and trusting what I do and doing it for longer periods of time, hopefully to get the big runs and hopefully help our team have success.”
Due to the abundance of international cricket across all disciplines, Australia’s cricketers have endured a taxing year. Following a tumultuous tour of India, the team had to contend with the IPL, the World Test Championship final, and an arduous Ashes campaign in England. The ODI World Cup in India, which Australia won for the sixth time in the format, ensued shortly thereafter. Following the World Cup final, they were forced to contend against India in a bilateral Twenty20 International series.
With so much non-stop cricket, Cricket Australia has placed significant emphasis on the strategic management of key players through leisure and rotation. Similar to Smith, who participated in the initial two Twenty20 Internationals in India, he retired for a period of time to recharge his batteries. Drawing attention to the rigorous cricketing schedule, Smith elaborated on the physical and mental significance of effective burden management.
“It’s been a busy, busy year. I certainly needed a little break after the World Cup. It was good to have a week at home, and relax and refresh the mind and body as much as possible to get ready for this series.” he said. “But now I feel like I’m in a good place. I think the boys feel like they’re in a good place and are keen to get out and play some red-ball cricket again.
“It can be challenging with quite a busy schedule, but any sort of moment you can get to have a few days or a week just to get away from the game and get your mental side back to a position where you can go out and perform internationally, it’s important.
“I’ve sort of got into the golf a bit and played a bit of golf back home. The boys are continually laughing about it at the moment, that I’m getting into golf.”
During the midpoint of the Ashes series earlier this year, there were widespread rumors regarding Steve Smith’s retirement. However, the preeminent batsman himself refuted those rumors. The Pakistan series was slated to mark the final hurrah for comrade David Warner in whites, so Smith was once again confronted with the conundrum. However, Smith elected not to utilize his cards, just as he had done throughout the Ashes campaign.
“I just take it day by day and enjoy my time playing. While I’m enjoying it, I’ll keep playing. I’m not in any hurry to make any decisions. I’m pretty relaxed and looking forward to the summer.”
