SA vs AUS 2018: Steve Smith ready for exciting South Africa tour

Steve Smith amassed 1305 runs in 11 games at a destructive 81.56 average in the bygone Test season.

Steve Smith wins his second Allan Border medal on Monday | Getty Images

Australian skipper –Steve Smith, who won the Allan Border medal for the second for his outstanding show with the willow in the calendar year 2017, is raring to go to an exciting South African tour after a much-needed break from the game of cricket following One Day series against England.

The 28-year-old right-hander, who amassed 1305 runs from 11 games at an average of 81.56 in the bygone Test season has been rested from the ongoing seven-match T20 International Tri-series, featuring England and New Zealand as well. Smith, who led Australia to the Ashes title, failed to replicate Test form in One Day cricket in the subsequent ODI series, losing 4-1 to England.

Smith went to further admit that a tough Ashes campaign left him "absolutely ruined", but now he is feeling fresh and ready for the South Africa tour after taking a 10 or 12 days break from the game.

According to a report in Cricbuzz, Smith said, “I needed it (a break). I was absolutely ruined after the one-dayers. It takes a lot out of you, an Ashes series. Particularly with every Test match going five days and the extra pressures and everything that comes with an Ashes series. I was certainly feeling it mentally. And the last 10 or 12 days that I've had off, it's been great.”

Smith signed off by saying, “I haven't picked up a bat and now I'm keen to get the bat back in my hands which probably means it's been good and I'm ready to go for what's going to be an exciting tour of South Africa. It's been good that the Test guys have been able to have a little bit of a break and freshen up and really hit the ground running when we get to South Africa.”

 

 

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 13 Feb, 2018

    Share Via