Hours at the crease, a ton and fury at dubious dismissal: Steve Smith tunes up for home Test return

Steve Smith proved once more that his passion for occupying the crease exceeds that of most men, visibly aggrieved when given out for ‘just’ 103 on a dubious call in NSW’s Shield clash with WA.

• Pakistan star now in Kohli’s league
• Why Marnus sets Test bar for Langer

An emotional Steve Smith laid bare the passion that pulses through his veins when he left the SCG a shattered man on Tuesday … after making 103.

Enough is never enough for cricket’s insatiable two-legged run-machine.

Smith faced an unusually painstaking 295 balls for the 12th ton of his NSW career, and admitted his slow going was partially about taking deliberate measures to get his eye back in for Test cricket after coming off six Twenty20 internationals.

Live stream the Australia v Pakistan Test Series with KAYO SPORTS on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14-day free trial >

But just nine days out from making his long-awaited return to the baggy green on home soil, the world’s No. 1 batsman unsurprisingly wanted even more.

Steve Smith played himself back in to red ball tempo for NSW against WA. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Smith was caught somewhere between mystified and livid at being given out gloved behind to Western Australia’s Marcus Stoinis, when he felt he’d missed the ball by a foot.

“I got given out, didn’t I … You are allowed to be disappointed at times,” said Smith afterwards.

“I didn’t feel as though I hit it. But that happens and you’ve just got to move on.”

Smith glanced back at the umpires on multiple occasions as he made his way off the ground on day two, as replays appeared to suggest he had a right to feel miffed.

The former Australian captain was unconvinced he had got anything on the ball that removed him.

At the most, Smith potentially faces the prospect of an official reprimand from match officials for dissent. Although it’s difficult to get a clear gauge on what might constitute a minor level one offence given the substantial improvement in the behaviour of Australia’s domestic cricketers since Cape Town, with code of conduct reporting down 74 per cent since that infamous line in the sand moment.

A patient ton was Smith’s 12th for NSW in the Shield. Picture. Phil Hillyard

West Australia’s Sam Whiteman copped a level one official reprimand earlier this Sheffield Shield season for looking at his bat and taking too long to get off the field after feeling he’d nicked one onto his pad when given out lbw.

More than anything, Smith’s reaction to being dismissed simply illustrated why he is cricket’s unmovable object. His will to live at the crease is just so strong.

At stumps, Western Australia finished 1-85, with Test hopeful Mitchell Starc making the only breakthrough on a flat deck.

WA trail by 359 runs after NSW declared at tea at 8-444.

Earlier, WA tried to suffocate Smith with their ring fields – something England tried with limited success at the back end of the Ashes.

But the 30-year-old warned opposition teams can try and pin him down at their peril.

“I guess people can try it, I didn’t really feel unsettled,” said Smith.

“They were able to keep me pretty quiet I guess … or not score as quickly as I would have liked. But I think the pitch was a lot to do with that as well, how slow it was.

“I guess after playing the T20s it was about getting back into red-ball cricket, finding the right way to go about it.

“But it wasn’t easy, the wicket was pretty slow, you could see there were no slips for the majority of the innings – a bit of a ring field … and the square is quite soft as well. But it was good to spend some time in the middle.

“I think it’s the way I play my best, when I’m patient and just playing each ball on its merits. I just sort of hung in there, hoped it would get easier and we could score a bit quicker but that didn’t really happen and we just had to keep grinding it out.”

Originally published as Hours at the crease, a ton and fury at dubious dismissal: Steve Smith tunes up for home Test return