Ashes 2023: I was quite mentally drained, says Steve Smith after playing 100th Test match

Australia’s vice-captain Steve Smith admitted he was mentally drained after playing his 100th Test match. The third Test match at Leeds, Headingley was Smith’s 100th Test match but he returned with scores of 22 and 2 and thus he could not deliver in his landmark Test match.

Smith has amassed 9137 matches at an average of 58.95 in 100 Test matches and he is regarded one of the best batters Australia has ever produced. The talisman has scored 190 runs in three Ashes Test matches and he scored a match-winning knock of 110 runs in the first innings of the second Test match at Lord’s.

Smith has been playing consistently and a nine-day break between the third and fourth Test match must have really helped him.

“Honestly, I needed a break. It was quite a draining week mentally with emotions flying around at what I’d achieved. I usually don’t like to think about that kind of thing, but it was quite a big milestone individually. I was just quite mentally drained from to begin with,” said Smith while speaking to the Unplayable Podcast.

Smith added he didn’t feel switched on in the third Test match and he will be looking to turn the tables at Manchester.

“I certainly didn’t feel as switched on as I would have liked out in the middle. It’s been good to refresh and I feel a lot more focused mentally this week. I feel like I’ve got through some pretty tough periods; Lord’s when the lights were on, and had an impact in that game. Didn’t have as much impact in the first and third games as I’d like,” Smith added.

In the last four Test matches on English soil, Smith has scored two centuries, including a century in the WTC Final against India. Smith is hopeful of making a positive impact in the last two Ashes Tests.

“But we’ve played four Test matches here, I’ve got two hundreds in four games, which is probably better than my record overall, in terms of hundreds scored and games played. Hopefully, I can have an impact in the last two,” said Smith.

Australia is leading by 2-1 and Smith is going to hold the key for the visitors. The fourth Ashes Test will be played at Old Trafford from 19th July onwards.