AUS vs PAK 2023: Not overthinking it – Steve Smith on returning back to form

Australia’s superstar Steve Smith is optimistic about returning to form in the upcoming three-match against Pakistan. Smith had a great run in 2022 but he hasn’t been at his absolute best in 2023 and he will be determined to turn the tables against Pakistan.

Smith has all the experience under his belt and has an outstanding record, especially while playing in the Australian conditions. The right-hander has scored 9320 runs in 102 Test matches at an impressive average of 58.92 and he will aim to get the job done against Pakistan.

Smith scored a fine hundred in the World Test Championship final against India but since then hasn’t delivered the goods.

“I don’t have to reinvent the wheel. I’ve performed at a high standard for a long period of time, and I was probably below my standards of what I want. So yeah, for me, it’s not overthinking it, not over playing too much, not changing too much, just going out and trusting what I do and doing it for longer periods of time, hopefully, to get the big runs and hopefully help our team have success,” Steve Smith was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.

Meanwhile, Smith scored 302 runs in 11 innings of the ODI World Cup and played a key role in taking Australia to glory.

Smith added he is in good space and he would like to make the most of the home conditions.

“I reckon I’ve made technical changes every week for the last 10 years. It’s nothing really new for me. I feel like I’ve found a nice sort of tempo in the last couple of days. I feel like I’m in quite a good place. So yeah, I’ll keep building up for the first Test. It’s important to try and stay as mentally fresh as you can,” he explained.

The first Australia-Pakistan Test will start in Perth on Thursday, December 14.