Steve Smith lets bat do talking as he shuts up England’s boo birds

Steve Smith is determined to let his bat do the talking at the World Cup — and that’s exactly what he did to silence the vocal England fans with a stunning century in a warm-up match.

Steve Smith has been in stunning form in Australia’s World Cup warm-up games. Picture: AP

• Smith breaks silence on nasty Poms
• Kohli to Khan: Your ultimate cricket World Cup preview
• No Warnie? How ‘Contiki Tourists’ won 2003 World Cup

Steve Smith closed his ears and swung his bat. The boos echoing around The Ageas Bowl in Southampton reinforced that Smith was no longer cricket’s golden boy.

But Smith’s busyness at the crease and innovative hitting confirmed he was in golden touch.

That’s four monster scores in a row — 116 (102) against England, 76 (82) against West Indies and unbeaten scores of 91 (108) and 89 (77) against New Zealand.

Australia's Steve Smith shut out the crowd noise and blitzed England with his bat. Picture: AFP

On the eve of a World Cup and Ashes campaign in England, that’s what local fans who were hoarse in the voice would’ve gone home murmuring about.

“I do feel I’ve certainly grown as a person over the last year, that’s for sure,” Smith said after amassing and then smashing his first 50-over century in more than two years.

“Anytime you make a hundred for Australia it’s a real honour and great to do. But I want to keep it for the real stuff.”

Fans chanted “cheat, cheat, cheat” as Smith walked out to bat, while his half-century and century celebrations were both greeted with a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowd of 11,540.

Nathan Lyon wondered how it couldn’t get to him.

“We’re human,” Lyon said, “We all want to be loved.”

Nathan Lyon (R) doesn’t know how Smith is able to put up with the booing. picture: AAP

WORLD CUP PREVIEWS:

INDIA: Kohli a better chaser than lemon after tequila

ENGLAND: Great expectations, but danger lurks

SOUTH AFRICA: Chokes ‘a dark mist that hangs over us’

Did Smith care?

“I heard a few things as I went out to bat, but it didn’t really get to me.

“I know I’ve got the support of my teammates up on the balcony ,and that’s the important thing.

“If I can make them proud out in the middle, and make Australians proud as much as I can, that’s my job.

“Everyone is entitled their opinion and how they want to treat people, but it is water of a duck’s back.

“I just blank it out, they call it white noise. When I am out there I pay no attention to the crowd.”

Steve Smith is congratulated by teammate Nathan Coulter-Nile after reaching his century. Picture: AP

WORLD CUP PREVIEWS

NEW ZEALAND: Dark horses or genuine thoroughbreds?

PAKISTAN: Chaos as ever, but beware the ‘wounded tigers’

AFGHANISTAN: Former minnows to challenge world order

Smith, 29, played the role of accumulator for his first 30 overs, running himself to exhaustion.

Then, in the final three overs, he played three glorious sixes to illustrate a power game that many overlook.

There was a front-foot heave over backward point off Ben Stokes, a scoop over keeper Jos Buttler’s head and then a loft over long off against Tom Curran to reach 99.

“I have (added) to my game,” Smith said.

“I’ve worked on a few different shots, ways to manipulate the field a little bit more and rotating the strikes a little bit better,” Smith said.

He needed to. Smith revealed he was “disappointed” with his ODI form before this ball tampering ban.

But after striking 394 runs in five practice matches that lapse, like his ban, has expired.

Australia's Steve Smith bats during the 2019 Cricket World Cup warm up match between England and Australia at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, southern England, on May 25, 2019. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP)

Smith has been shadow batting since he joined the Aussies, in the shower according to coach Justin Langer, and while walking the tracks in Gallipoli according to Lyon.

“He’s very hungry to score a lot of runs. He was playing cover drives (in Gallipoli) and working one off the hip every four steps,” Lyon said.

“He’s been shadow batting in his room and walking down the street in Southampton here.”

Smith put down Jason Roy on zero while fielding at first slip, but he also put up his hand to bowl at the World Cup.

“The ball’s actually coming out pretty well,” Smith said, referencing his training form.

The leg-spinner took 0/11 (two overs) against West Indies on Wednesday.

Smith says he’s come back into the team at peak fitness. Picture: AP

Smith revealed he had sweated through 12 months of intense running programs to set record-low skinfolds during his suspension.

The former captain said he was back throwing at “80 per cent” after elbow surgery, hoping that would climb closer to 100 per cent by Saturday’s World Cup opener against Afghanistan.

Langer isn’t too worried.

“Steve Smith’s catching ability and ability to read the play in the field is incredible,” Langer said.

“From the ring (he can run players out). Not from the outfield, but that’s OK — that’s not (his) role at the moment.

“If you’ve got an inner ring of Smith, (Glenn) Maxwell and (David) Warner — my God, it’s like walking into an electric chamber.”

WHAT THEY’VE SAID ABOUT STEVE SMITH

“He’s literally a master of the game,” coach JUSTIN LANGER.

“I was bowling to Steve and it’s the first time in 12 months that I’ve been hit over mid-off,” spinner NATHAN LYON.

“We had plans and they didn’t work. He moves around and scores everywhere, he’s quite hard to bowl to,” Kiwi quick DOUG BRACEWELL.

“He’s got a great ability to score off a lot of balls, your good ball can still go for one. That’s a sign of a really good player — when your best balls can still be hit for runs,” New Zealand coach GARY STEAD.

“You talk to him now and he feels 100 per cent. He’s hitting the ball in the areas he wants to hit the ball, he’s hitting the ball cleanly and hard and moving well,” assistant coach RICKY PONTING.

Originally published as Steve Smith lets bat do talking as he shuts up England’s boo birds