Batting superstar Steve Smith is adamant he doesn’t have to “reinvent the wheel” to address what could be considered a lean period in an otherwise stunning career with no immediate plans to enter retirement.
Test centuries in both England and India in 2023 would be considered by a most a successful year, but Smith’s average across his past 11 Tests of 43.2 is well below his career return of 58.61.
Smith, 34, has set such extraordinary standards across his 102 Test career than anything less than multiple three-figure returns across any series could be considered underachieving.
He also made just two 50s across nine innings at the ODI World Cup and conceded he’s “not sure” where his future in the 50-over format lies having secured a second World Cup winners medal in India.
But while he acknowledged his 2023 returns – three centuries in 11 Tests – were “below my standards”, he had no worries about finding the runs he’d like when the first Test against Pakistan begins on Thursday.
“I don’t have to reinvent the wheel. I think I’ve performed at a high standard for a long period of time,” Smith said in Perth.
“I was probably below my standards of what I want (this year).
“So for me, it’s not overthinking it, not overplaying too much, not changing too much, just going out and trusting what I do and doing it for longer periods of time.”
With David Warner set to hang up his baggy green at the end of the series, there has been constant speculation about what Smith’s future looks like.
But after suggestions of his own Test retirement were shut down by his manager, Smith confirmed there were no plans to follow his long-time teammate.
“I just take it day by day and enjoy my time playing,” Smith told reporters on Tuesday.
“And while I’m enjoying it I’ll keep playing. I’m not in any hurry to make any decisions or anything.
“I’m pretty relaxed and looking forward to the summer.”
Smith also said he had been freshened by a short break following the exhausting World Cup campaign, having also been released early from the T20 series in India that followed it.
He showed he was ready to go with a sterling Big Bash cameo for the Sydney Sixers, making a 42-ball 61, before linking up with his Test teammates.
“Obviously, it’s been a busy, busy year. I certainly needed a little break after the World Cup and it was good to just have a week at home and relax and try and refresh the mind and body as much as possible to get ready for this series,” he said.
“But now I feel like I’m in a good place. I think the boys feel like they’re in a good place and keen to get out and play some red-ball cricket again.
“It’s important to try and stay as mentally fresh as you can. It can be challenging with quite a busy schedule, but any sort of moment you can get to have a few days or a week just to get away from the game and get your mental side back to a position where you can go out and perform internationally, it’s important.”
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