Steve Smith Attributes Gabba Century Against India as a Transformative Moment in Test Cricket
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Synopsis
Steve Smith credits his Test resurgence to a transformative moment at the Gabba, where he scored a century, leading to impressive performances in subsequent matches. His recent form includes a remarkable century in Galle, placing him among the top century-makers in Test history.
Key Takeaways
- Steve Smith ended an 18-month Test century drought.
- He attributes his resurgence to time spent batting in the middle.
- Smith scored 131 runs in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
- He is now joint-fifth on the all-time Test century list.
- Luck plays a vital role in cricket, especially in challenging conditions.
Galle, Feb 9 (NationPress) Since Australia’s interim captain Steve Smith broke his 18-month Test century drought with a stylish 101 during the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, he has impressively achieved three centuries in four subsequent matches.
Following the conclusion of the second Test against Sri Lanka, where he amassed 131 runs, Smith was inquired about the ‘lightbulb moment’ that sparked his current resurgence.
“I just felt like I was batting well and spending some quality time in the middle. Once you secure that one good score, it helps you gauge the bowlers you're up against, making you feel more at ease. It's true what they say, there's nothing like time in the middle,” he explained.
“For me, that moment was at the Gabba. From then on, I began to feel more comfortable facing numerous deliveries and found my rhythm. I can't attribute it to anything specific other than having confidence in my practice, trusting the process, and acknowledging that the game has its ups and downs,” he stated during the post-match press conference.
By scoring 131 in the second Test at Galle International Stadium on Friday, which led to a remarkable 2-0 series victory for Australia, Smith has now matched the legendary Rahul Dravid and England’s Joe Root in the tally of most Test centuries.
His outstanding century at Galle has also positioned Smith as the joint-fifth highest century-maker in the history of Test cricket. At 35, Smith acknowledged that ‘luck plays a significant role’ in such challenging conditions.
“Even when I wasn't scoring as I desired, I often mentioned to all of you (media) that I was actually batting quite well. Things can shift swiftly with a stroke of luck,” he noted.
“In the first innings of the first Test here, I was dropped on one and went on to capitalize. On another day, I could have been caught, and we wouldn’t be having this discussion,” he added.
“Luck is essential, especially in these conditions and even back home in Australia where there has been significant seam movement. You definitely need some luck, and you must capitalize on it, which I've managed to do recently,” he concluded.
