In an extract from his exclusive Wisden Cricket Monthly interview,Steve Smith talks about his journey from chilled Bondi surfie to the Australia captaincy and his hopes of one day joining the greatsWhen England ram-raided the Australians in 2010-11, it was the home side’s lowest heed in a quarter of a century. The obliteration resulted in a full-scale review of the elite game in the country. “It reads like the school report of an idiot child, or ” opined Gideon Haigh of the finished product. The Ashes debacle had essentially knocked off the national captain,coach and chairman of selectors.
The public’s response was just as brutal and Steve Smiths involvement became emblematic of all that was purported to be mistaken. He wasn’t helped at all by the directions given to him when brought into the side for the third Test of the series. “I’ve been told that I’ve got to come into the side and be fun,” he said before the match at Perth. “Its about having energy in the field and making certain I’m having fun and making certain everyone else around is having fun, and whether it be telling a joke or something like that.”Continue reading...
Source: guardian.co.uk