ADELAIDE: Australian star hitter Steve Smith is hoping for a big summer, saying he feels in the best shape with the bat in six years after a 12-month process to adjust his technique.
Smith scored an unbeaten 80 from 77 to help Australia secure a six-wicket win over world champions England in the first ODI here on Thursday.
It was a race “close to perfection” for the former skipper.
“(It was) probably the best I’ve felt in about six years,” Smith told reporters on Friday.
“I was just in really nice positions and felt really good, honestly, I haven’t felt like this in about six years.
“It’s been good to score some points during this time and we’re always striving for perfection, and for me yesterday was as close to perfection as you can get,” he added.
The 33-year-old has revealed he has been working for a year to ‘synchronise’ his hands and feet in a bid to rediscover his best position and technique.
“I worked on a few things, it was almost six months or 12 months. At the start of last summer, I tried to get my hands back to where they were in 2015. I feel like being a bit more to the side now and my feet and hands are in sync.”
Smith featured in a game for Australia in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. He scored four points in the game against Afghanistan.
However, in the ODI against England, Smith looked imperious and was caught on camera saying “I’m back, baby” to batting partner David Warner during the innings.
“(Thursday) was probably the first time I had extended time in the middle with this change. It’s hard to base something on one inning, but I felt like things clicked for me the way they did. did at the WACA (in a Test against England) in 2013.
“Hopefully this is the start of a great summer,” Smith added.
Smith has an average of 60 from 87 tests with 28 centuries and 36 fifties.
After the series against England, Australia will host the West Indies and South Africa.
Smith scored an unbeaten 80 from 77 to help Australia secure a six-wicket win over world champions England in the first ODI here on Thursday.
It was a race “close to perfection” for the former skipper.
“(It was) probably the best I’ve felt in about six years,” Smith told reporters on Friday.
“I was just in really nice positions and felt really good, honestly, I haven’t felt like this in about six years.
“It’s been good to score some points during this time and we’re always striving for perfection, and for me yesterday was as close to perfection as you can get,” he added.
The 33-year-old has revealed he has been working for a year to ‘synchronise’ his hands and feet in a bid to rediscover his best position and technique.
“I worked on a few things, it was almost six months or 12 months. At the start of last summer, I tried to get my hands back to where they were in 2015. I feel like being a bit more to the side now and my feet and hands are in sync.”
Smith featured in a game for Australia in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. He scored four points in the game against Afghanistan.
However, in the ODI against England, Smith looked imperious and was caught on camera saying “I’m back, baby” to batting partner David Warner during the innings.
“(Thursday) was probably the first time I had extended time in the middle with this change. It’s hard to base something on one inning, but I felt like things clicked for me the way they did. did at the WACA (in a Test against England) in 2013.
“Hopefully this is the start of a great summer,” Smith added.
Smith has an average of 60 from 87 tests with 28 centuries and 36 fifties.
After the series against England, Australia will host the West Indies and South Africa.
