Prepare any way you wish

Free rein for the amazing Smith as our focus now turns to Lord’s

TIME off will be Edgbaston hero Steve Smith’s return for a remarkable but also exhausting return to Test cricket.

Australian coach Justin Langer said the dual centurymaker, last-day wicket-takers Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins as well as opener David Warner would miss the trip to Worcester for a tour-game beginning tonight (AEST).

Langer too will enjoy a mini-break in the eight-day gap between the first and second Tests, with the players’ partners and families set to join the tour which got off to the best possible start.

Smith’s wife Dani was on hand to witness his big runs at Birmingham and while it’s expected he will put down his magic bat for a couple of days, Langer said if the batting maestro wanted to hit some balls as well, no one would say no.

“He’s under no instructions. He can hit as many balls as he wants. I don’t think he will because he won’t have anyone to throw them to him,” Langer said after the first Test win.

“He can prepare however he wants to … and we will keep encouraging that. But he’s going to be that tired after this game, physically and mentally so I’m sure he’ll welcome the few days off.”

Langer marvelled at Smith’s first Test efforts in which he said the 30-year-old took batting “to another level”.

“You have in different teams, different eras, great players, but for someone like Smudge [Smith] who is averaging over 60 and the way he played in this innings with all the pressure and everything that is on him, it was not only great skill but enormous character,” Langer said.

“Enormous courage, brave, unbelievable concentration, unbelievable physical stamina, unbelievable mental stamina, all traits of great players.”

While Smith’s outstanding efforts stood out, Langer said the first Test victory was one for planning, and bold selections. Langer said the 251-run win was less vindication for selectors, but more an indication, with such quality waiting in the wings, that Australia had the squad to break an 18year drought of Ashes success in England.

“We won, from 8-122 and to win the Test match like we did, that shows incredible character, incredible fighting spirit,” he said. “Look at the guys we picked and you go, ‘yeah they are all fighters’.”