Steve Smith has his mojo back following Australia 's ODI win over England. The batsman scored a fluid 80 not out en route to his side’s six-wicket victory in the first match of the best of three 50-over series.
During his innings the cameras caught him mouthing to batting partner David Warner "I'm back baby" as he top-scored for the five-time 50-over world champions. Once the encounter at the Adelaide Oval had concluded, Smith was asked to expand on his passionate comment.
“It was probably the best I’ve felt in about six years,” he claimed. “I was just in really nice positions and I felt really good, I honestly haven’t felt that way in six years or so. It’s been nice to score some runs in that and we’re always looking for perfection. For me yesterday was as close to perfection as I will get.”
It has been tough going for Smith since he returned to the international fold following his ban for ball tampering. He received a 12-month ban from international cricket following the dramatic events on the 2018 tour of South Africa.
He was also barred from holding any leadership position with the national team for two years. Despite his time away from the game, Smith managed to maintain his level in ODI cricket.
Since the 2019 ODI World Cup, he has averaged 54.84 in ODIs, which goes up to an even more impressive 66.13 since the start of 2020. Although Smith scored a century in his previous ODI innings, against New Zealand in September, he felt more comfortable and accomplished in his latest 50-over effort.
"[It was] much better yesterday," he said. "In Cairns on a slow wicket I still felt a little bit rushed and wasn't quite happy with the positions I was getting in whereas yesterday I just felt, a couple of the cover drives I hit, I know I'm batting really well when I've got my weight going through the ball."
Despite saying this is the best he has felt in six years, since 2016 he has averaged 61.77.
However, for his lofty standards, Smith has experienced a lean period in the Test arena with just two centuries since the 2019 Ashes. "I've been working on a few things, it's almost been a six-month or 12-month process," Smith said. "The start of last summer, I tried to get my hands back to where they were in 2015.
"I feel like I'm staying a bit more side-on now and I've got my feet and hands in sync together. [Thursday] was probably the first time I've actually had extended time in the middle with that change.
"It's hard to base something on one innings but it felt as though things clicked for me like they did at the WACA in 2013. Hopefully it's the start of a big summer."
