Stunning century drowns out boos

Smith stars in Cup warm-up

CRICKET: Steve Smith closed his ears and swung his bat. The boos echoing around The Ageas Bowl in Southampton reinforced that Smith was no longer cricket’s golden boy.

But Smith’s busyness at the crease and innovative hitting confirmed he was in golden touch.

That’s four monster scores in a row – 116 (102) against England, 76 (82) against West Indies and unbeaten scores of 91 (108) and 89 (77) against New Zealand.

On the eve of a World Cup and Ashes campaign in England, that’s what local fans who were hoarse in the voice would’ve gone home murmuring about.

“I do feel I’ve certainly grown as a person over the last year, that’s for sure,” Smith said after amassing and then smashing his first 50-over century in more than two years.

“Any time you make a hundred for Australia it’s a real honour and great to do. But I want to keep it for the real stuff.”

Fans chanted “cheat, cheat, cheat” as Smith walked out to bat, while his half-century and century celebrations were both greeted with a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowd of 11,540.

Nathan Lyon wondered how it couldn’t get to him.

“We’re human,” Lyon said, “We all want to be loved.” Did Smith care? “I heard a few things as I went out to bat but it didn’t really get to me,” he said. “I know I’ve got the support of my teammates up on the balcony and that’s the important thing.

“If I can make them proud out in the middle, and make Australians proud as much as I can, that’s my job.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion and how they want to treat people, but it is water off a duck’s back. When I am out there I pay no attention to the crowd.”

Smith, 29, played the role of accumulator for his first 30 overs, running himself to exhaustion. Then, in the final three overs, he played three glorious sixes to illustrate a power game that many overlook.

There was a front-foot heave over backward point off Ben Stokes, a scoop over keeper Jos Buttler’s head and then a loft over long off against Tom Curran to reach 99.

“I have (added) to my game,” Smith said. “I’ve worked on a few different shots, ways to manipulate the field a little bit more and rotating the strikes a little bit better.”

In another boost, the former captain said he was back throwing at “80 per cent” after elbow surgery.

Smith is hoping that climbs closer to 100 per cent by Saturday’s World Cup opener against Afghanistan but coach Justin Langer isn’t worried.

“Steve Smith’s catching ability and ability to read the play in the field is incredible,” Langer said. “From the ring (he can run players out). Not from the outfield, but that’s OK – that’s not (his) role at the moment.”