Australia captain Steve Smith, who recorded his 23rd Test ton (102*) in the fourth Test of the ongoing Ashes series in Melbourne, has said that he is currently hitting the ball so smoothly and wants to make the most his dream run. Smith has piled up 604 runs at an incredible average of 151 in the 6 innings of this Ashes series thus far, which include including three centuries and a fifty.
Given his recent purple patch, the Aussie skipper also hoped that he will finish the series on a high note in Sydney.
"It's a shame we had to call it off. I could have been batting another hour, it was good fun. I'm enjoying it, I feel like I am hitting it really well and hopefully I can finish off well in Sydney,” Smith was quoted by Cricbuzz as saying after the end of fifth and final day at the MCG.
The 28-year-old also elaborated how he has transformed his game through immense hard work and a number of plans.
"I've had to work really hard but I feel my game is in really good order. I'm adapting to each bowler and changing my plans. You can never be satisfied because the game can bite you pretty quickly. I just enjoy batting and making runs," he explained.
Besides Smith, the swashbuckling opener David Warner also scored 103 and 86 in the two innings of the Boxing Day Test while the powerful all-rounder Mitchell Marsh chipped in with an unbeaten 29 off 166 balls as Australia managed to draw the Test after conceding a huge lead of 164 in the first innings.
Talking about Marsh’s two contrasting batting effort in Perth and Melbourne, Smith said: "I'm really pleased how he played. Walking off today he said 'I'm proud of myself, 12 months ago I wouldn't have been able to do that'. He's come a long way, he had to change the way he played."
Smith also admitted that things could have been different in the fourth Test had Australia not suffered an abominable collapse of 7 for 67 in the first innings.
"I would say we let ourselves down in the first innings. We were in a pretty good position three down (before collapsing). 327 was not enough. It was hard to get in front of the game and get a result," the world’s No. 1 Test batsman said.
Seeing the way things have panned out in Melbourne, Smith had mixed feelings over his in-form pace spearhead Mitchell Starc’s unavailability due to bruised heel.
"Happy he (Starc) didn't play and do further damage on a flat wicket although his reverse swing would have been handy out there. When we get to Sydney we will see what the wicket is... it could be green or spin a bit," concluded Smith.
Australia’s squad for the 5th Test:
Steven Smith(c), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Ashton Agar
