STEVE’S SORE POINT
‘Nervous moments’ over back
AUSTRALIA could be on edge for the rest of the summer after Steve Smith said he feared missing the first Test with a back injury.
The world’s best batsman is confident he will be fit for Boxing Day and will relish a chance to cash in on his incredible record at the MCG for cricket’s showpiece event.
However, Smith is still experiencing some stiffness and didn’t quite look like himself in Adelaide, where he scored one from 29 balls in the first innings.
Smith broke down attempting a fielding drill 48 hours out from the opening Test, and said he had some nervous moments before physios freed him up enough to play.
“I n i t i a l l y when I did it, I did have some me fears,’’ Smith said. id.
“I’ve had a few back issues in the past and they were e generally two or three-day y things where I do lots of physio and get myself into extension.
“Generally when I do it, I’m in inflexion and I struggle to get into extension, so it’s just about getting the physio to push on my back and getting that extension to try and get that range back.
“It’s still a bit stiff but it didn’t hamper me too much during the game. It was all good.
“It’s something I need to manage whenever it goes. I haven’t had an episode since 2014, so hopefully they can continue to be six years apart if they come.”
Smith said he was in no doubt for Boxing Day.
“If I sit down for too long (it stiffens up). But if I’m about and moving around I’m pretty good,” he said.
“If I’m moving around or laying down, if I just sit around for too long, it’s not great for it. I’m not worried about it. I think everything will be fine and be good to go.”
It’s hard to be amazed by Smith’s numbers when he averages 62 in Tests, but his eye-watering average of 113.50 at the famous MCG is particularly mind-blowing. Melbourne is his best international ground and Smith smashed an incredible 192 against India as captain in 2014-15.
He was suspended the last tim time India toured, and is hungry to ma make up for lost tim time in the 10y year anniversary o of his Boxing D Day debut. “Ten years. It’s kind of hard to believe but it’s be been a while since then then,” he said. “I think I’ve grown as a player over that time. I think my Boxing Day record is my best in Australia of all the grounds. I like batting at the MCG, those big occasions. I like to try and make the most of them and help the team out.
“There’s nothing like the thrill or you get the shivers down your spine when you walk out to bat on Boxing Day. The crowd yelling and it’s like a dream come true in a way. As a kid I always wanted to play in a Boxing Day Test match.
“I was always watching the Boxing Day Tests at home with the family after Christmas. And to walk out on Boxing Day and play, you get the shivers down your spine and the hairs on the back of your neck raise up and it’s just a great feeling.”