As Australia’s captain on the eve of a home Ashes series, Steven Smith exuded composure while sitting in front of a sizable media crowd.
He has been there and done this numerous times. However, this is a bit different. It was hardly Australia’s best option that Steve Smith was sitting there as a stand-in captain.
It was obviously not their backup plan to play a home Test without Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, two of their big three fast bowlers, for the first time since 2022.
It was not even their plan C to select two players, Brendan Doggett and Jake Weatherald, to make their Test debuts together for the first time since 2019 and to select Usman Khawaja’s eighth opening partner in 16 Test matches.
Australia is vulnerable and uneasy. However, there is little indication that Australia believes Perth is make-or-break, despite the widespread perception, at least among the general public, that England needs to win there to have any chance in the series. They are still thinking about the lessons they learnt during their 3-1 series victory over India in Perth last year.
“I think you want to try and win the first Test match and get yourself ahead of the game, I suppose, or the series,” Steve Smith stated on Thursday. “However, I believe that we were able to salvage the series even though we lost the first Test match last summer.
“If this week’s outcome doesn’t work out, we have a lot of faith that we can turn it around in that changing room. Last year, we witnessed it. Therefore, if we perform well this week, Patty might be available for the upcoming game. I’m not sure, Josh, but I believe we’ll see how this week develops.”
Twelve months ago, Australia learnt some very important things. They knew they had been undercooked heading into that series, despite their vocal protests following a thrashing from India in Perth that sparked a flurry of criticism from home fans.
In contrast to previous year, every member of the team except Khawaja participated in the most recent Sheffield Shield round in order to get ready for the first Test. With the exception of Travis Head and Mitchell Starc, every member of the selected XI has participated in at least two first-class games in the past month, something that was not the case last summer. Golf courses in Perth have been visited this week, but not as frequently as they were during the previous year’s training season.
There has never been more hype. even with India’s potential for inflation, on a different scale from the previous year. However, it has seemed like normal for Steve Smith, who is starting his ninth Ashes series overall and his fifth at home.
Steve Smith remarked, “It’s pretty standard,” “I’ve participated in a few already, and before the series, a lot of things are always stated. However, for us, it’s about just tuning out the outside noise, focussing on our procedures and team strengths, and believing in and supporting that throughout. The fact that we will begin tomorrow is fantastic. Before and during the final few days of training, everyone was eager to get started.
Australia has kept its bubble intact. The original Ashes team was not leaked to the press. Given the binary nature of the selectors’ decisions, it was a very excellent accomplishment that the XI was not leaked until Thursday morning.
The media, former players, and gamblers have been left to make public predictions on Bazball’s performance in Australia. This week, Australia’s current players have been overwhelmingly positive about England’s team and the style of cricket they play.
Australia did appear “rattled” in the field at times during the 2023 Ashes in England, as the Bazballers of England fluctuated in pace like only they can.
Steve Smith undoubtedly conveyed the idea that Bazball is not “in their heads” as the Barmy Army’s song implies, but the proof will be in the pudding.
“I think it’s just playing the tempo of the game that needs to be played at each certain time,” Steve Smith stated. “There will undoubtedly be times during this series when some of their batters get out and they swiftly score some runs. And in certain situations, we might need to be a little defensive. And then identifying the times when we can attack a little more and simply playing the game that is actually in front of us without letting it go too far before carrying out the plans that must be carried out at that particular moment. That’s as straightforward as I can make it at the moment, I suppose.
Before this series, there are as many unknowns about Australia as there are about England. However, it is evident that Australia is not holding the steering wheel firmly in Perth. The outcome will be the outcome. Cummins looks so terrific in the nets that reinforcements are nearly a given.
Perhaps this is the quiet before the storm. However, an underpowered Australia seems ready for the storm even if it materialises.
India
