Star After a 12-month process to modify his technique, Australian batter Steve Smith is anticipating a big summer, saying he feels in the best shape with the bat in six years. In the opening One-Day International at Adelaide Oval on Thursday, Smith led Australia to a six-wicket victory over the defending world champions England with an unbeaten 80 off 77 balls. The former captain played “almost perfect” of an innings. Smith told reporters on Friday, “(It) was probably the best I’ve felt in about six years.” “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 time and we’re always looking for perfection, and for me yesterday was as close to perfection as I will get,” he added.
The 33-year-old said he’s been trying to get his hands and feet “in sync” for the past year in an effort to recapture his best stance and technique. “I’ve been working on a few things, it’s almost been a six-month or 12-month process. 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.” Smith participated for Australia in one T20 World Cup match that just ended. During the match against Afghanistan, he scored four runs.
But in the one-day international against England, Smith displayed commanding play, and the cameras captured him mouthing “I’m back, baby” to batting partner David Warner during the game. “(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 a Test against England) in 2013. “Hopefully it’s the start of a big summer,” Smith added. Smith has played in 87 Tests, scoring an average of 60, with 28 centuries and 36 fifties. Australia will host the West Indies and South Africa following the series against England.