SMITH TALKING CUP
Suspended star drops in for chat
CRICKET: Former Australia captain Steve Smith spent lunch yesterday plotting Australia’s World Cup onslaught with pacemen Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
Smith joined the quicks at NSW training at their Moore Park base before the trio had lunch.
It is understood Smith spoke about Australia’s performances during their 2-1 recent 50-overs series loss to South Africa before discussing potential batting line-ups for next year’s tournament.
Smith and Dave Warner’s bans expire in April, just a month before the start of Australia’s World Cup defence.
While Smith will be ineligible to captain the side, he will resume his role as a senior player.
“He was at training,” Starc said.
“Pat and I had lunch with him. He has a smile on his face.
“He said he is in career-best bowling form. We might see him bowl a bit more in grade cricket and when he comes back in a few months’ time.
“He is talking about having to get back and get himself fitter. He is in good spirits.
“He talked about his grade cricket and playing in the UAE league in December. There wasn’t heaps about the immediate future.
“There was a little bit of talk about World Cup time and some line-ups there. It was good to see him around here.”
While Smith will play in a Twenty20 tournament in the UAE, Starc is set to make himself unavailable for the rich IPL.
Having been dumped by the Kolkata Knight Riders. he is unlikely to put himself up for the end-of-year draft.
“I got a text message two days ago from Kolkata that I’ve been released from (my) contract,” Starc said.
“At the moment I’ll be home in April. I didn’t go last year with my tibia injury. It was a great opportunity to freshen the body up.
“Barring a little niggle in my hammy I’m feeling good with my body. That period of time has paid off for the body.
“I just want to play as much Test and one-day cricket for Australia.
“The IPL is a lovely bonus on a pay packet but if I miss that to play more Test matches, I’m taking that.”
Starc will return to red-ball cricket when he spearheads a NSW line-up that includes Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Stephen O’Keefe and Trent Copeland, against Queensland starting in Canberra tomorrow.
The Test quartet of Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon were overlooked for Australia’s T20 side to focus on firstclass cricket.
“The reason we weren’t considered for the T20s was to get some red-ball cricket before the Test matches, try and hit peak form coming into the Test,” Starc said.