Inside the tiny cricket community that is fuelling the comebacks of Steve Smith and David Warner
NEVER in a million years did Steve Smith expect to find himself in the backstreets of Toronto, preparing for a cricket tournament. BEN HORNE takes you inside the tiny community driving the exiled star’s comeback.
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THE sign out the front reads, “We repair bats.”
Not that the Yoshi Sports Shop really needs to advertise: it’s hidden in warehouse 457 out the back of an industrial complex, 56-minutes’ drive from the Toronto downtown.
Ontario’s small, but dedicated cricket community, mainly immigrants from Pakistan and India, know where the front door is at Yoshi’s, otherwise not even the latest GPS technology could locate this tiny indoor centre and kit supply store in hockey obsessed Canada.
Yesterday, Steve Smith and David Warner walked through the front door.
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It’s a sight no one in cricket could have envisaged and one the local juniors who spend their school holidays knocking in bats and rolling on grips for the shopkeepers out the back at Yoshi’s will surely never forget.
The youngsters clambered for autographs and selfies and watched every throwdown as if wet-weather training for the unheralded Canadian Twenty20 league was a World Cup final.
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Warner’s new Winnipeg Hawks coach, Waqar Younis came out the back looking for a bowler.
Instantly a hand shot up: “I bowl mediums,” said one kid.
“I need a spinner,” replied Younis.
“I bowl leggies,” the kid quickly corrected himself, and he could barely contain himself as he was shown the way to Warner’s net.
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In a million years Smith and Warner never thought they would be in the suburbs of Toronto.
But forced into “repairs”, here they are at Yoshi’s — as bizarre and surreal as it might be — and the duo have embraced their new reality.
Warner bounded off the bus with his trademark surge of enthusiasm and took it upon himself to become team electrician, plugging in and manoeuvring a cumbersome bowling machine that looked as if it had seen better days — so teammates could bat.
Strangers yesterday, Warner buzzed around his new dressing room, his mood infectious, and the ice was broken before he hit the nets himself and crushed balls with his frightening power and timing.
In the baggy green Smith and Warner weren’t just the best players, but the most professional trainers. And nothing changed yesterday in the less famous colours of the Toronto Nationals and mighty Winnipeg Hawks.
Smith, one to wear his heart on his sleeve at all times, cursed himself loudly as “lazy” for poor shots, and brought out all his usual quirky exuberance at the crease.
For Australia, Smith is renowned as the first person in the nets and the last to leave. He would bat all day if he could.
Having already hit for more than an hour yesterday, Smith chucked the pads on again, but aware of his unfamiliar surroundings, politely asked coach Phil Simmons, “am I all right to hit a few more? Is that all right?”
“As long as your arm doesn’t fall off,” was the reply.
Toronto’s batting coach, Zimbabwean journeyman, Trevor Penney was bathed in sweat by the end, in awe of Smith’s work ethic.
“I think the young players are watching this going, geez, he’s no prima donna or anything like that,” said Penney.
“He’s always fascinated me. As a coach to throw to the best in the world is a joy.”
As of yesterday, one Australian international graces the wall of honour at Yoshi’s — one James Hopes.
With all due respect to a fine cricketer, it’s almost fitting that a man who never played Test cricket has taken pride of place next to the entrance of this understated and humble outpost.
But new room may have to be made now and blu tack found for David Warner and Steve Smith.
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