Steve Smith- Australia pre-match press conference, 21 Feb '25
[Reporter:]
Australia is the most successful team in ICC events. What is mindset behind this and what's the mindset behind the success in the global events?
[Steve Smith:]
Yeah, good question. I think the pressure of big tournaments gets the best out of us as a team - I think over the last ten or so years, we probably haven't performed as well as we would have liked in the Champions Trophy. We know that sometimes in those big tournaments in World Cups, for instance, it takes us a little while to get into our groove, which we've done in the last few, but we know with Champions Trophy it's a shorter format. You're only playing three round games, so you have to be switched on from the first one. So, our message to the group is essentially it's a quarter final to begin proceedings and hopefully that can bring the best out of our players.
[Reporter:]
Retirement, injuries, missing fast bowling - the 11th hour captaincy in the ICC Champions Trophy. Even we have pictures of Pat Cummins instead of you. So, as a captain, this all builds up pressure on you or on the other side you are feeling no pressure having a new team, no hopes, no targets - do you feel pressure in all these huddles or are you a pressure-less captain right now because you don't have anything to lose and you just have to perform.
[Steve Smith:]
I mean, I'm pretty relaxed. There's always pressure when you're playing in international events and big tournaments. So, yeah, look, I think it's clear we're obviously missing a few of our gun fast bowlers, but we're not worried about that. We're thinking about what we've got here and the opportunity that those guys have. There's some quality players in that room that are playing in almost their first big event I suppose, which they're looking forward to and I'm looking forward to as well - I think it's going to be great to see them placed under pressure against some quality opposition, and yeah, it's going to be an exciting time for us. Yeah looking forward to it
[Reporter:[
India - Pakistan is big rivalry and now Australia and England is also a big cricket rivalry so how do you take this on and how do you see the England cricket team, they announced their 11. Do you see the conditions will favour one spinner here?
[Steve Smith:]
Yeah, look, England are a great side. They've been a very good white ball team for a long period of time and we're looking forward to starting our campaign against them tomorrow. Hopefully it's a belter of a game. I actually haven't seen the surface yet. I wasn't here when we trained at this ground a few days back. I was a bit sick, so I actually haven't seen the surface and it was under covers just now. So, to your one spinner question, I'm unsure. I'll have a look when I get an opportunity and yeah we'll go from there.
[Reporter:]
England have named a team have you decided on your team yet?
[Steve Smith:]
We haven't yet, we're pretty clear where we're sort of heading but we'll name it at the toss tomorrow. I need to have a look at the surface when we get an opportunity as well. We're pretty clear where we want to go, but we'll name it tomorrow.
[Reporter:]
Does it feel a different dressing room without Pat and Josh and Mitch Starc? Does it feel different to you to be in there and not see them there with you?
[Steve Smith:]
I mean, it's a little bit different. I've played for ten years plus with those guys around so it's a little bit different but yeah, as I alluded to before I think it's great opportunity for some of these younger guys to showcase their skills in a world event. I'm looking forward to it. I think they've been placed under pressure in many different scenarios, whether it be T20 cricket or different T20 franchise things around the world. They've played in in high-pressure scenarios so yeah I'm looking forward to seeing how that stacks up, I suppose in a world event against some quality players too.
[Reporter:]
You are among the Fab Four including Virat, Williamson, and Joe Root, but our superstar Babar Azam is lacking runs in his last 50 ODI innings. Can you share some words or advice for Babar Azam?
[Steve Smith:]
Look, he's a quality player. He's had a really good career so far. He's got all the time in the world, the way he plays, he's got a solid technique, he's got a good head on his shoulders, so yeah, he maybe hasn't scored as many runs as he would have liked in the last little bit. We're all guilty of that at stages throughout our careers, don't worry, but yeah, look, he's a wonderful player.
[Reporter:]
With the Champions Trophy and the World Cup format being quite similar, I was just wondering, does being a reigning World Cup champion sort of impact the motivation for the Champions Trophy?
[Steve Smith:]
I think it's irrelevant really, it's another event. As I sort of alluded to before, you've got to be focused from that first game. I think in our last World Cup we were a bit slow to get started, we were really under the pump and then we brought our best cricket towards the back end of the tournament which I think is what you need in World Cups. Champions Trophies are a lot different. Obviously the eight best sides at the moment are here. You can't be slow to get started. You've got to get right into your work from the outset. So yeah, that's our message to the group and the guys are excited about getting started tomorrow night against England out here.
[Reporter:]
You guys have the upper hand on England if we talk about last ten ODIs between you guys. So, coming into this tournament, both of the teams have lost their respective series to India and Sri Lanka. Any specific plan for tomorrow so that you can start on a winning note?
[Steve Smith:]
Score one more run than the opposition. Simple as that, I think. Yeah, we both didn't play as well as we would have liked, I suppose, over the last couple of weeks. But, that doesn't mean a great deal coming into tomorrow. I think it's a fresh start. It's a new tournament. Yeah, two good teams going at it. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. It should be a good game
[Reporter:]
England Australia both our favourite teams for Pakistani spectators. So what strategy you will make tomorrow to charge and attract spectators towards you and your team?
[Steve Smith:]
Just hopefully put in a good performance. I think we'll be nice and positive, nice, and aggressive, both with bat and ball early on in the power play and try and get on top from that way, from that point of view. So, yeah, I'm not sure. Just go out and play a really nice brand of cricket, and yeah, hopefully we can get some good support out here tomorrow.
[Reporter:]
There have been a lot of questions about tomorrow’s match but I want to ask you specifically who will be the four semi-finalists in this Champions Trophy? Well, one is obviously Australia in your point of view…
[Steve Smith:]
I'm not going to answer that. I think we've got 8 really good teams that I think can win on any given day. So, I think that's what makes this tournament really good. You've got to turn up on every day and play a really good game of cricket. So, I'm not answering that question, but the best four teams will be there at the end.
[Reporter:]
England have named a Smith at number three; will you be batting three? You don't know your team perhaps, but will you be batting three?
[Steve Smith:]
Pretty good chance I reckon, yeah.
[Reporter:]
You have played your last match in the Gaddafi Stadium in 2022, you played a Test match here and now you are coming back to a new Gaddafi Stadium which is newly built. How has the experience been here in the new stadium under the lights - have you have trained here for the last two days?
[Steve Smith:]
No, it looks really good it's the first I've seen of it I said before I didn't come to the training session the other day I was a bit sick - but yeah here now and now it looks great. The new changing rooms look really good and the stands look beautiful. So no, hopefully we have a nice crowd out here tomorrow, a good atmosphere, and yeah, hopefully we can put on a good show for them.
[Reporter:]
We saw in the tri-nation series fast bowler getting good bounce in the first innings of the match. Can fast bowler be more effective than spinners?
[Steve Smith:]
I think both can play a real part. First to second innings could be a little bit different. We've seen, I heard the other night here when the boys trained there was a bit of dew around in the evening so the back end of the game could be challenging for the bowlers with a wet ball and skidding on so the day might spin a little bit more when it's a little bit drier so I think both have a part to play.
[Reporter:]
England have selected Mark Wood, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, I think all three will probably be expected to maybe have a role in this winter's Ashes. Does that have any bearing on you as batters going forward into the Ashes this winter? I know you obviously face them a lot, so I'm not going to say anything quite as glib as you might be able to land a blow on them, but does that have any bearing on you?
[Steve Smith:]
Not really. I've faced all those guys quite a bit, saw a lot of the guys in the change room. So now they're quality bowlers. They're a good attack. So now we're looking forward to coming up against them tomorrow.
[Reporter:]
You visited Pakistan before and now you're here for the Champions Trophy. Tell us about your experience about Pakistan, about culture, food, and people.
[Steve Smith:]
No, it's been wonderful so far. The hospitality's been great. People are lovely. The food's been great at our hotel. We haven't really had a chance to get out and do too much and it's pretty secure but we played a little bit of golf which has been nice as well, but yeah look it's a wonderful place to play I've actually never played a white ball game in Pakistan before so I'm excited by that experience and yeah it's been great so far and hopefully that continues.
