Steve Smith booed, scores century in World Cup warm-up against England
The English crowd chanted “cheat, cheat, cheat” as Steve Smith came out to bat last night, but they fell silent as the stunning batsman crushed England with a brilliant century.
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Update: Steve Smith says he successfully blocked out nasty crowd abuse after the stunning batsman crushed England with a practice match century that showed he will be a force at the World Cup.
Smith, 29, broke his silence after the crowd of 11,540 showered his century celebrations with boos in distasteful scenes in Southampton.
Pockets of the The Ageas Bowl also chanted “cheat, cheat, cheat” when Smith came out to bat but the No. 4 responded with 116 (102), his first 50-over century in more than two years.
“I do feel I’ve certainly grown as a person over the last year, that’s for sure,” Smith said after Australia’s shock 12-run victory.
“I heard a few things as I went out to bat, but it didn’t really get to me.
“I know that I’ve got the support of my teammates up on the balcony and that’s the most 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.”
Smith has been working tirelessly on his leg-spin bowling and said he was ready to roll the arm over during Australia’s World Cup campaign, which begins against Afghanistan on Saturday.
“The ball’s actually coming out pretty well,” Smith said, having finished with 0/11 (two overs) against West Indies on Wednesday.
Smith revealed he was “disappointed” with his ODI form in the six months leading up to his 12-month ball-tampering ban.
Smith averaged just 17.3 runs from his final seven ODIs before the suspension.
But the master batsman has peeled off consecutive scores of 89 not-out (77), 91 not-out (108), 76 (82) and 116 (102) in the past two weeks, hammering the attacks of New Zealand, West Indies and England.
Smith has batted in all five of Australia’s practice matches, averaging 131.3.
“I have (added stuff to my game),” Smith said.
“I’ve worked on a few different shots, ways to manipulate the field a little bit more, rotating the strikes a little bit better.
“Hopefully they can hold me in good stead.”
Smith has set record-low skinfolds since he returned after sweating through 12 months of intense running programs.
“Anytime you make a hundred for Australia it’s a real honour and great to do,” he said.
“But I want to keep it for the real stuff.”
England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler said it was vintage Smith.
“He just looked like the Steve Smith of old, didn’t he?” Buttler said.
“Class player. He is one of the world’s best batsmen.”
Buttler does not expect his teammates, or any nation, to sledge Smith and David Warner during the World Cup.
“Steven and David Warner have obviously been back playing in the IPL and from my experience guys just got on with playing cricket,” he said.
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