Steve Smith has already had banter with Ashes villain Stuart Broad and been bowled by England fast Ollie Robinson within the nets after arriving for his county cricket stint forward of what might “potentially” be his final Test collection in England.
The Australian star, who smashed an epic 774 runs within the 2019 Ashes that was drawn 2-2, has landed in England for a stint with Sussex that the locals are usually not too proud of.
Sussex coach Paul Farbrace denied any notion that his group was “helping Australia to win the Ashes” by permitting Smith to play for them, adamant that he was serving to county cricket greater than something.
But Smith mentioned this county lead-in to the Ashes was one thing he needed to do “for a long time” and the advantages can be apparent.
“I’ve got a lot of cricket coming up and a window opened up to come and play some county cricket. It’s something I’ve never done and have always wanted to do, so the stars aligned in a way,” he mentioned.
“We are over here for the English summer and it’s a good opportunity to play some county cricket, which is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. It’s going to be a good couple of months. I’m excited.”
Smith is hardly on his lonesome as an Australian taking part in county cricket earlier than the Ashes, with fellow Test star Marnus Labuschagne having already performed a number of video games this season with Durham and squad member Marcus Harris pounding out runs for Gloucestershire.
The advantages have begun too, with Smith already going through Robinson within the nets at The Oval, the place the World Test Championship remaining may even be performed.
“Ollie bowled to me yesterday actually,” Smith revealed. “I left one third ball and he knocked me over, so that wasn‘t ideal.
“But I was impressed with him actually when he was out in Australia. I thought he had some really good skills. He‘s quite tall, he hit some good areas and looks like he’s got better since then, so I’m looking forward to playing with him this week.”
Smith additionally spoke to Broad whose feedback that the final Ashes in Australia had been “void” due to the Covid restrictions then in place the Aussie discovered “odd”.
“We were all there and playing so it was a little bit odd, you know? He‘s a nice guy and loves throwing out some good banter, so it’s all part of it,” he mentioned.
Knowing the collection may very well be his final Ashes in England, having flagged beforehand he doesn’t understand how a lot time he has left in Test cricket, Smith, now 33, mentioned successful a primary collection within the UK since 2002 was absolutely the precedence and another excuse for his county stint.
“It would be a huge one to tick off the bucket list, I suppose,” Smith mentioned of the prospect of successful in England.
“We haven‘t been able to do it but we got close last time and were unable to get over the line. It’s certainly something that would be high up on my bucket list and everyone else in the team as well.”
Originally printed as Steve Smith arrives in England for his county cricket stint earlier than Ashes
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
