Australia batsman Steve Smith believes he is beginning to find form again ahead of the first ODI against India on Friday; the sides will compete in three ODIs, three T20Is and four Tests over the next two months
Tuesday 24 November 2020 17:06, UK
Australia batsman Steve Smith claims to have "found my hands again" ahead of the forthcoming series against India.
It may sound a strange revelation for one of the world's greatest batsmen, but Smith goes into Friday's opening one-day international having missed around four months of cricket during lockdown before a disappointing IPL campaign with the Rajasthan Royals.
The 31-year-old is now holed up in quarantine, mostly shadow batting in his hotel room, but he feels he has made a breakthrough in the nets.
Smith said: "I'm good at the moment, It's a bit different being in quarantine for the last 10 days or so but we've been able to train and keep up our skills.
"I haven't played a game for almost a month - we got knocked out of the IPL quite early - so I'm excited to get back playing and hopefully starting the summer well.
"I've done a bit of shadow batting, I copped a few messages last night saying stop tapping my bat down. But because we've got a smaller group for a training session it's been good for batters like myself to get time in the nets.
"I was disappointed with my batting through the IPL. I wasn't consistent enough and never got into a good rhythm. But the last few days I've found something, I've sort of found my hands. It's taken three or four months but I've found them.
"Theoretically it is a simple thing. It's just getting that feel of the bat behind my toe the right way, the way my hands come up the bat. It's hard to explain.
"But it just hasn't quite been right until two days ago. I found a little something and everything just clicked in."
Sky Sports Cricket pundit and former England captain Michael Atherton said of Smith: "He has spoken before about losing his grip on the bat and being not quite sure how to grip the bat - it sounds the most basic thing.
"You wonder whether something has really clicked or if he is convincing himself all is right. We have all been through the situation where you are in a bit of a rut and are trying to kid yourself that everything is okay.
"The game is played in the head and sometimes you need to fool yourself. The game plays tricks with you, particularly as a batsman. Batting is mental torture day to day and you find ways to cope with that."
