Ashes 2017: Steve Smith says he may have to change his batting style for Boxing Day Test after copping a ball to the hand

AUSTRALIAN captain Steve Smith says he may have to bat differently at the MCG after copping a ball to the hand on Sunday but that won’t stop his pursuit of another Boxing Day hundred.

Australian captain Steve Smith bats in the nets at the MCG on Monday.

AUSTRALIAN captain Steve Smith says he may have to bat differently at the MCG after copping a ball to the hand on Sunday but that won’t stop his pursuit of another Boxing Day hundred.

Smith said the knock, when a shot from opener Cameron Bancroft ricocheted off a rail in the nets, was compounded by a series of blows in the nets and during the opening three Ashes Tests.

He said his had was still sore and that his unusual batting technique could become a touch more conventional as a result.

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But Smith, who has scored big hundreds in the past three Boxing Day Tests and averages an epic 127 at the MCG, said he didn’t think the issue would inhibit his quest for more runs.

“It’s a little bit sore. It’s more the back of my hand. I copped a few in the nets in Perth and a few more in the game,” he said after a final training session on Christmas Day, which included a net session.

Australian captain Steve Smith bats in the nets at the MCG on Monday.

“It just seems to be whenever are getting hit in a spot it continually gets hit. Yesterday’s was a little bit bizarre. I didn’t see it, someone said “heads”, I tried to put my head down and of course it hit me in the same spot.

“It was a little bit sore playing a few shots after that, and a little bit sore today … but I’ll be able to deal with it and just get on with it. Maybe I just have to use a bit more of my top hand through this game, be a bit wristy.”

Smith, who confirmed the one team change with Jackson Bird replacing the injured Mitch Starc, said the flat-looking MCG wicket looked a batsman’s paradise again and he wanted to “cash in”.

But he also backed Bird to do a job and help get another result as the Aussies push for a series whitewash.

“Jackson comes in for Mitch and he deserves a go,” Smith said of Bird who has played two of his eight Tests at the MCG.

“He hasn’t played since this game last year, he has been on a few tours, and guys have come in and jumped him and he has been great around the group.

“He works incredibly hard and when he’s gone back to Sheffield Shield cricket he has dominated. He bowls well out here, so he deserves a crack and hopefully he goes really well.”