Australian batting maestro Steve Smith revealed that prioritising Test cricket has revitalised his mental sharpness, a shift from the exhaustion he felt juggling all three formats earlier in his career. Speaking to reporters in Sydney after his first training session since August, the 36-year-old, now based in New York during the Australian winter, credited his decision to retire from ODIs and take a prolonged break for keeping him fresh ahead of the Ashes opener on November 21 in Perth.
Stepping in as captain with Pat Cummins sidelined by a lingering lower back injury, Smith, with 10,861 Test runs at an average of 56, emphasised that conserving mental energy is key to sustaining his elite performance. His remarks come as Australia prepares to defend the urn against England, buoyed by a 2-1 victory in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where Smith’s twin centuries underscored his late-season prowess.
Reflecting on his evolution, Smith admitted, “I certainly get drained mentally quicker than I used to. Ten years ago, I loved playing every game. Now, Test cricket has taken huge priority.” This strategic pivot, reducing exposure to T20s and ODIs, allowed him to peak last summer against India, where he averaged 68.5 in the final two Tests. Unlike his younger days, when relentless net sessions defined his preparation, Smith now finds efficiency in minimal practice. “It takes me two hits to get sorted. I feel ready to go,” he said, noting that technical readiness is secondary to mental clarity for enduring long spells at the crease. His current regimen—hitting fewer balls than in his 20s—prioritises focus, a tactic validated by his 2024 haul of 1,200 Test runs, including three centuries, despite playing only nine matches.
Smith’s interim captaincy, his second stint after leading from 2013 to 2017, feels lighter than his earlier tenure, which was marred by the 2018 sandpaper scandal. “Stop-gap captaincy is much easier,” he told reporters, sidestepping speculation about the 2027 Ashes in England or retirement at 38. Australia’s selectors, banking on his 41 Test hundreds, see him as a linchpin for a squad blending youth like Nathan McSweeney with veterans like Josh Hazlewood.
Social media buzz on X, with over 50,000 posts, lauded Smith’s streamlined approach, though some fans questioned his workload management given Australia’s packed 2025-26 schedule, including tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand. The Sydney session, under coach Andrew McDonald’s oversight, focused on countering England’s seam-heavy attack led by James Anderson, with pitches expected to favour swing in Perth’s early summer conditions.
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As the Ashes loom, Smith’s mental recalibration aligns with Australia’s broader strategy to maximise player longevity amid a gruelling calendar. His 2024 performance—averaging 60.2 against pace, per CricViz—signals readiness to exploit England’s inconsistent batting, which collapsed thrice under 200 last series. With 40,000 fans expected at Optus Stadium and global viewership topping 100 million, Smith’s leadership and batting will be pivotal for Australia’s bid to retain the Ashes, last won outright at home in 2021-22.
His focus on mental freshness, eschewing the “burnout” of his 2019 marathon 774-run Ashes campaign, positions him to anchor a side eyeing a third consecutive series triumph, reinforcing their No. 1 Test ranking.
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