“Out of Runs, But Not Out of Form”, Steve Smith Reflects on Return to Form After 18-Month Dry Spell

Australian batsman Steve Smith is no stranger to the ups and downs of international cricket. After enduring a quiet 18-month period without big runs, Smith has bounced back with remarkable form, hitting two Test centuries within a week against India. His return to the century list, however, wasn’t about just breaking the drought.

Smith scored his 33rd Test century earlier in Brisbane during the Third Test. However, during the ongoing Test at the MCG, he equalled Sunil Gavaskar‘s record of 34 Test centuries.

“Out of Runs, But Not Out of Form”

When asked about the struggles that had led to his recent success, Smith shared some candid insights into his thoughts. Despite scoring a few big runs of late, he never lost faith in his ability.

Watch: Virat Kohli Confronts Booing Australian Fans After Being Dismissed During the 4th Test at MCG 

“Sometimes you can be hitting the ball really nicely, which I think I said to all you guys when I wasn’t scoring the runs. I actually felt like I was batting pretty well,” he said, reflecting on his mindset during the lean patch.

Smith emphasized that there’s a clear difference between being “out of form” and simply being “out of runs.” He went on to elaborate: “I thought I was hitting the ball nicely. You’ve got to have faith. You’ve got to have a bit of trust in what you’re trying to do. I’ve played the game for long enough to know that you can have your ups and downs. Having some faith and confidence is key.”

The Role of Patience and Luck 

While Smith admitted that luck plays a role in getting big runs, he was quick to highlight the importance of patience. “I think you need a lot of luck on these wickets to get big runs. And last week I had my fair share. I think I got an umpire’s call and got beaten on numerous occasions. On other days, I would’ve nicked it,” he said, underscoring that luck and skill go hand in hand in cricket.

But Smith was quick to add that he never lost faith in himself. “You’ve just got to have faith that you’re going to turn it around,” he said. This helped Smith finally break free from his dry spell, much to the relief of Australian fans.

Praising Cummins’ Intent

Smith’s century partnership with captain Pat Cummins was another bright spot in Australia’s second-day performance. Resuming their innings at 311 for six, the Australian duo displayed positive, aggressive cricket, gaining crucial momentum. “There wasn’t really a general plan. It was just go out there and play. Yeah, there wasn’t a real plan,” Smith explained. “It was just go out and play and see what’s going on.”

Smith praised Cummins for his “really good, positive intent.” Their partnership gave Australia the momentum to push India on the defence. “We were able to get a nice partnership together and take a bit of the momentum of the game,” Smith added.

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram,  and Instagram