"I reward myself with a chocolate bar if I get a hundred" : Steve Smith

[Abdullah719]

Yasir Shah celebration motivates Steve Smith ahead of Adelaide Test

A year out made Steve Smith run-hungry, but a cheap out and a send-off has made him plain ravenous.

Pakistani Yasir Shah's pointed celebration at dismissing Australia's star batsman in the series-opener has spiked Smith's motivation for the second Test starting on Friday in Adelaide.

Shah raised seven fingers, denoting the number of times he has got Smith out in Test cricket, in an act noted as "interesting" by the Australian.

"It gave me a bit more motivation next game to not get out to him," Smith told reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday.

"So I will probably be a little bit more disciplined against him."

Smith made just four runs before being bowled attempting a lavish drive against Shah in Australia's only innings during their first Test win in Brisbane.

Smith then inflicted some self-abuse by running the three kilometres back to the hotel instead of catching the team bus.

"I always punish myself when I get no runs, just like I reward myself when I score runs with a chocolate bar at the end of the night if I get a hundred," he said.

"So yeah, if I get no runs I always like to have a run or go to the gym or do something just to give myself a bit of a punishment."

England paceman Stuart Broad has outed Smith eight times in Tests - the only bowler to dismiss the Aussie ace more than legspinner Shah.

But Broad's haul comes in 24 Tests while Shah has played just six Tests against Smith.

"I feel the times he (Shah) has got me out, I have been on a few runs," Smith said.

"I have been slogging in a couple of second innings ones where I was playing some funky shots and stuff so I'm not too worried.

"I thought he bowled really well at the Gabba, got some good drift and a little bit of spin on a wicket that probably wasn't spinning that much, so bowled well."

Smith came to the crease in Brisbane with Australia 2-351.

"I probably do bat a little bit better when there is pressure on, for sure," he said.

"The situation we were at was a pretty good one ... I actually spoke to JL (coach Justin Langer) in the morning.

"I was like 'how should I approach this today, what do you think?' and he said 'do what you want to do'.

"I thought about being quite aggressive and it didn't work."

"It's fine with me. I know that batting, you fail a lot, so when you get in need to make the most of it."

https://wwos.nine.com.au/cricket/pa...ve-smith/af8e3602-d02a-411c-b983-e2e8f4aee90f

 

[Mamoon]

So a chocolate bar every time he gets a hundred? Hopefully he is having sugar-free ones.

 

[Captain caveman]

Shah has got the best batsman in the world today, out 7 times in 12 innings.
Thats just an amazing record.
Now that smith has let yasir into his head, i expect yasir to get him at least once in the next test.

 

[Shazzam]

If Smith scores a big daddy 100 next game we would know why. Yasir Shah will have triggered the beast.

 

[sunny85]

"I will probably be a little bit more disciplined against Yasir Shah" : Steve Smith

I guess that 7 gesture by Yasir shah has got steve smith rattled. Maza ayega 2nd test mein. Pakistan are implying same tactics as used by India and Kohli to rattle Aussies.

Yes - Game on hai...

 

[BaankeJi]

I guess that 7 gesture by Yasir shah has got steve smith rattled. Maza ayega 2nd test mein. Pakistan are implying same tactics as used by India and Kohli to rattle Aussies.

Yes - Game on hai...

Never mind.

 

[Plumb]

Thanks Yasir!!!! now get ready for a 200 from Smith!!

 

[Relic]

Thanks Yasir!!!! now get ready for a 200 from Smith!!

It's gonna rain for 3 out of the 5 days so unless Aus bats first or Pakistan gets out early a 200 may not be possible.

 

[MenInG]

Smith opens up on pain of Adelaide Test after Hughes' death

What Steve Smith recalls most vividly about the Adelaide Test of five years ago was that the cricket itself felt “almost irrelevant”.

Amid the devastation which followed the death of Phillip Hughes just 12 days before, Michael Clarke’s Australian team took on India in a series that began in a different city and on a different date to what was originally scheduled.

There were emotional centuries for Clarke, who battled through the pain of a flared-up back, and for Smith, as well as two each for David Warner and Virat Kohli, who had travelled to Macksville for Hughes’ funeral the week before. Nathan Lyon took 12 wickets.

It was the last Test in Adelaide before the pink ball Test era, Australia would win a classic and days later a 25-year-old Smith would become captain for the rest of the series because of the latest hamstring injury Clarke had suffered in Adelaide.

“It was kind of a carefree week, if that makes sense, cricket-wise,” said Smith, asked about the fifth anniversary of Hughes’ passing, which falls on Wednesday.

“It was sort of like, ‘This is actually almost irrelevant in a way’. We’re just going out and doing what we were doing and we actually played really well. But it was literally like we were just playing because that’s what we’re here to do. There wasn’t really too much emotion around our performances and how we wanted to play, if that makes sense.

“It was obviously a tough week. Batting-wise [there are] some pretty fond memories. I think I played well, got a 162 [not out], I think it was. And I remember getting my hundred and going over to the 408 [Hughes’ Test number] on the ground and raising my bat and paying tribute to our mate we lost a few days before. Other than that I can’t really remember a lot of the week.”

Smith also spoke of Hughes during the Ashes this year after he had been struck in the neck and knocked to the ground by a Jofra Archer bouncer in a frightening moment at Lord’s. There were gasps around the famous ground and then silence before it quickly became apparent that Smith was all right, and after being led off for a head injury assessment he resumed batting, only to be later diagnosed with delayed concussion.

"I remember getting up and my first thought was, I got hit in a pretty similar place to where Hughesy got hit, and I was like, 'I'm OK'. It's not fair in a way," Smith said in England.

Many things have changed since that most sombre of lead-ins to the Adelaide Test, among them the safety developments in the game. There are now stronger protocols around concussion including the allowance of substitutes for players who sustain head injuries during matches, as well as manufacturing improvements such as the helmet stemguards which after the blow at Lord's Smith began to use.

The game cannot entirely rid itself the risk of serious injury or catastrophe but Smith believes it is safer.

"I think so," he said. "You’ve got the stemguards in now for that little bit of extra protection. Most players are wearing those now. I’m probably one of the last ones to finally take that hurdle. But I think the game is in a good place."

With the day-night Test starting on Friday, the Australians will begin training at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday and Hughes won't be far from their thoughts.

“Some of the boys here were pretty close to Phil,” Smith said. “I dare say some of the boys will reflect and think about our little mate, that’s for sure.”

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...-test-after-hughes-death-20191126-p53eei.html

 

[Abdullah719]

Common sense move is to bench Yasir, now

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Steve Smith "Babar and Rizwan played well and obviously the 2 openers batted well on the first morning as well. Pakistan will take a little bit of confidence from the way they batted in the second innings, so yes, I think it will be a good Test match" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvPAK?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvPAK</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1199392260510453760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BaankeJi]

Common sense move is to bench Yasir, now

Actually it is the opposite. Yasir has high chances of getting Smith. If he gets him out, his selection will be justified regardless of what else he does.

 

[AFM]

Meanwhile in Pakistan.

"I reward myself with a biryani every time I take a catch"

 

[Abdullah719]

Meanwhile in Pakistan.

"I reward myself with a biryani every time I take a catch"

Biryani supplies running short now

 

[Snowflake]

Biryani supplies running short now

How was this guy not motivated to pursue such fitness prior to the World Cup?! It's just mind boggling! Leading your country on the biggest stage of all and you could care less about your belly sticking out. But, right after you get dropped, you lose that fat and get in shape!

 

[Ab Fan]

So a chocolate bar every time he gets a hundred? Hopefully he is having sugar-free ones.

Exactly what came to my mind first up.

 

[GenericBrand]

Impressed with how he takes his failure seriously if its true.

 

[Titan24]

Such an inspiration for everyone. I hope our young players also learn from his work ethics.

 

[hitthestump]

How was this guy not motivated to pursue such fitness prior to the World Cup?! It's just mind boggling! Leading your country on the biggest stage of all and you could care less about your belly sticking out. But, right after you get dropped, you lose that fat and get in shape!

Like a lot of Pakistanis Sarfaraz settled into a comfort zone until forced out of it. Our players (and people to some extent) only tend to work as hard as they need to.

 

[Titan24]

How was this guy not motivated to pursue such fitness prior to the World Cup?! It's just mind boggling! Leading your country on the biggest stage of all and you could care less about your belly sticking out. But, right after you get dropped, you lose that fat and get in shape!

He was satisfied with CT 17 victory and didnt look motivated after that. Some people get satisfied by one achievement, while some people never stop.

 

[jnaveen1980]

So another chocolate in the next match.

 

[Indiafan]

Typical desis focusing on the chocolates reward and not the punishment he gives himself when he gets out cheaply

 

[Caved12]

Typical desis focusing on the chocolates reward and not the punishment he gives himself when he gets out cheaply

It is obvious that he is always on a strict diet plan where he does not get to eat stuff like chocolates etc very often so he has set a cheat day and that day only comes when he scores big. I think "desis" here are just praising him because he is always scoring runs and is GOAT, so must be eating too many chocolates

 

[King_Kohli]

Come on yasir......
Give him one more

 

[The Viper]

Running three Kilometres after a failure...

Although I guess that it would be rare for Smith to fail.

Elite mentality though.

 

[Titan24]

Guys he has just eaten 27 chocolates in last 9 years (Average of 3 per year). That isnt bad unless he eats chocolates outside of this routine as well.

While in 42 tests he hasnt scored a century so he has run 126 km in last 9 years after not scoring a century along with his normal training.

Its a caloric deficit he has created here.

 

[Relic]

Guys he has just eaten 27 chocolates in last 9 years (Average of 3 per year). That isnt bad unless he eats chocolates outside of this routine as well.

While in 42 tests he hasnt scored a century so he has run 126 km in last 9 years after not scoring a century along with his normal training.

Its a caloric deficit he has created here.

It's not always a 3km run though.
Sometimes he just trains in the gym for bit longer than usual.

 

[Titan24]

It's not always a 3km run though.
Sometimes he just trains in the gym for bit longer than usual.

True but, still he has worked out more based upon this routine in comparison to the chocolates he has eaten.

 

[topspin]

Actually it is the opposite. Yasir has high chances of getting Smith. If he gets him out, his selection will be justified regardless of what else he does.

Even if Smith scores a 100?

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Even if Smith scores a 100?

If your bowler is already in the head of the second best batsman in the world you’re winning the mind games

 

[Relic]

If your bowler is already in the head of the second best batsman in the world you’re winning the mind games

That's the only game we're gonna win on this tour. Lol.

 

[Finisher]

 

[KingKhanWC]

Haha, Im sure he ate dozens of chocolate bars when he was banned.

Smith puts a heavy price on his wicket for sure but the way he also attacks bad balls shows he is such a great batsmen.

I think Yasir will do him again, he's got into the head of Mr Smith.

 

[Captain caveman]

Running three Kilometres after a failure...

Although I guess that it would be rare for Smith to fail.

Elite mentality though.

More a sign of Obssesive Compulsive Disordet(OCD).
With all of smith idiocyncracies and twitching, i fear for smith's long term mental health.

 

[PakLFC]

I would piece of cake. That is what playing against Pak and scoring runs against us is currently like.

 

[Swashbuckler]

What dedication, simply superb.

 

[Abdullah719]

The stats hint Steve Smith’s lack of sleep hurts him. He’s working on it

Steve Smith is working hard on finding a solution to his mid-Test sleeping problems, but Tim Paine says it’s not “an easy fix” for a batsman who doesn’t know how to switch off.

Smith has made no secret of his sleeping troubles in the past, saying during the Ashes that he only gets 15 hours of shut-eye during a five-day Test.

He told The Daily Telegraph this month that an app which plays the sound of rain has made a small difference, but he still can’t stop his mind drifting to thoughts of batting – particularly when he’s mid-innings or soon to be at the crease.

Paine told reporters on Thursday that Smith is yet to find a solution to his sleeping problems, but continues to search for answers with support staff. He also pointed out the irony in Smith’s sleeping troubles given he has a stake in Koala Mattress deemed to be worth more than $12 million, according to AAP.

“I think that is just how he is but at the same time I know he is working with people at Cricket Australia and elsewhere on trying to find a better night’s sleep,” Paine said. “It’s not a great endorsement for his Koala mattress company.

“He’s working on trying to get better at that and trying to relax a bit more in between games.”

While it’s normal for batsmen to have lower second innings averages than first, Smith’s numbers show a marked decline the longer a Test wears on. The 30-year-old has a Bradmanesque first innings average of 93.64 which drops to a far weaker – but still strong – 63.37 in the match’s second innings. As for second digs, Smith averages 51.68 in the third innings, but has a mere mortal’s average of 30.68 when batting last.

The numbers raise questions over whether Smith’s lack of sleep during a Test is hurting his batting, although Paine wasn’t buying into the theory before the second Test.

“He performs in first innings which all good players want to be able to do when the game is up for grabs and big first innings runs more often than not will win you Test matches or certainly put you well in front in the game,” Paine said. “If you asked him would he rather score his runs in the first or the second, he’s going to take the first every day of the week and his record is second to none.

“He’s plugging away at trying to get a better night’s sleep but I don’t think it’s an easy fix for someone who is wired the way Steve is.”

Paine also touched on Smith’s other battle – the one he has with spinner Yasir Shah who’s removed him seven times in Test cricket. Shah gave Smith a seven-finger salute as a send-off at the Gabba, leading to the batsman saying he’s found extra motivation for the second Test.

Paine said that extra motivation is noticeable, although he doesn’t expect Smith to change his batting approach.

“(Expecting) just the same Steve Smith. I think he’ll look to put him under pressure. I’ve sensed that he was extra motivated I guess after the little send-off he got.

“It’ll be interesting to see but he doesn’t miss out twice in a row too often.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...t/news-story/0609965942e56ac91f339b3028c9989e

 

[The Viper]

Wasim Akram worried by Yasir Shah’s ‘inexperienced mistake’ in giving send-off to Steve Smith

Pakistan legend Wasim Akram is worried Yasir Shah has poked the bear ahead of the second Test by taunting Steve Smith with a seven-finger salute.

The salute was part of a cheeky send-off by the Pakistan spinner, who bowled Smith cheaply at the Gabba to claim his seventh dismissal of the batting freak.

It was a pleasing personal achievement for Shah — only Stuart Broad has taken Smith’s wicket more times in Test cricket (eight) — but the send-off came at a low point for Pakistan which had let Australia reach 3-358.

What’s worse, however, is that it’s put the fire in the belly of a player who hardly needs any extra encouragement to make more runs.

Akram said Shah had made a mistake which wouldn’t have been made in previous eras.

“You know in our times, when I played I didn’t bother with how many times I got out who,” Akram told foxsports.com.au the night before the second Test. “It was the last thing on our minds. Nowadays, with stats, people know everything.

“But I, as a bowler, (worried about) ‘am I impacting the game or not? Am I winning the game for Pakistan or vice versa?’ If not, that doesn’t matter if I’ve got him seven times.

“It was just an inexperienced mistake. I hope he hasn’t poked the bear there.”

When asked if Shah’s actions were unwise, the Fox Cricket commentator said: “Not unwise … I wouldn’t have done it. I would have done it in the fourth innings if I got him out the second time winning the Test match. But not when you’re losing badly.”

Pakistan is expected to make two changes for the second Test, recalling opener Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Abbas. Akram supported both changes, but said Pakistan is still comfortably the underdog heading into the series finale.

Depending on whether Pakistan bats or bowls first at Adelaide Oval, Akram set his former side daunting benchmarks to reach to have a chance of winning.

“If they bowl first they have to get Australia out for 250 or less ideally. If they bat first, they need to get to 320.

“Against this Australian side they’ve got to fire. You can’t just win a Test match with only 240 and they get past 350, especially with this bowling attack.”

Pakistan hasn’t won a Test in Australia since 1995, and has never claimed a series win Down Under. Australia needs only to avoid defeat in Adelaide to win this year’s two-Test series.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...m/news-story/2c7405233343f0777a0de58c4f8bd1a0

 

[gazza619]

I have a feeling Steven Smith’s bad patch is about to start. Its his choice of words which is giving me this indication.

 

[DHONI183]

The stats hint Steve Smith’s lack of sleep hurts him. He’s working on it

Steve Smith is working hard on finding a solution to his mid-Test sleeping problems, but Tim Paine says it’s not “an easy fix” for a batsman who doesn’t know how to switch off.

Smith has made no secret of his sleeping troubles in the past, saying during the Ashes that he only gets 15 hours of shut-eye during a five-day Test.

He told The Daily Telegraph this month that an app which plays the sound of rain has made a small difference, but he still can’t stop his mind drifting to thoughts of batting – particularly when he’s mid-innings or soon to be at the crease.

Paine told reporters on Thursday that Smith is yet to find a solution to his sleeping problems, but continues to search for answers with support staff. He also pointed out the irony in Smith’s sleeping troubles given he has a stake in Koala Mattress deemed to be worth more than $12 million, according to AAP.

“I think that is just how he is but at the same time I know he is working with people at Cricket Australia and elsewhere on trying to find a better night’s sleep,” Paine said. “It’s not a great endorsement for his Koala mattress company.

“He’s working on trying to get better at that and trying to relax a bit more in between games.”

While it’s normal for batsmen to have lower second innings averages than first, Smith’s numbers show a marked decline the longer a Test wears on. The 30-year-old has a Bradmanesque first innings average of 93.64 which drops to a far weaker – but still strong – 63.37 in the match’s second innings. As for second digs, Smith averages 51.68 in the third innings, but has a mere mortal’s average of 30.68 when batting last.

The numbers raise questions over whether Smith’s lack of sleep during a Test is hurting his batting, although Paine wasn’t buying into the theory before the second Test.

“He performs in first innings which all good players want to be able to do when the game is up for grabs and big first innings runs more often than not will win you Test matches or certainly put you well in front in the game,” Paine said. “If you asked him would he rather score his runs in the first or the second, he’s going to take the first every day of the week and his record is second to none.

“He’s plugging away at trying to get a better night’s sleep but I don’t think it’s an easy fix for someone who is wired the way Steve is.”

Paine also touched on Smith’s other battle – the one he has with spinner Yasir Shah who’s removed him seven times in Test cricket. Shah gave Smith a seven-finger salute as a send-off at the Gabba, leading to the batsman saying he’s found extra motivation for the second Test.

Paine said that extra motivation is noticeable, although he doesn’t expect Smith to change his batting approach.

“(Expecting) just the same Steve Smith. I think he’ll look to put him under pressure. I’ve sensed that he was extra motivated I guess after the little send-off he got.

“It’ll be interesting to see but he doesn’t miss out twice in a row too often.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...t/news-story/0609965942e56ac91f339b3028c9989e

I´m not one bit surprised to read this. Smith´s fidgety behaviour at the crease and all those ticks in the body have always stood out for me as big indications for such issues. He seems to be having a very overactive mind - which isn´t necessarily a good thing. I hope he sorts it out soon before he too requests for a break from the game due to depression, anxiety etc. - God forbid!

Ask me about it.... It has now been three years and 11 months and still the doctors haven´t been able to win me one peaceful night´s sleep. No sedative, absolutely nothing has worked. There´s no depression, no anxiety, nothing of that sort either. Just no sleep. The process to find out the cause behind it is still ongoing as I´ve a couple of appointments the coming week. I´ve a strong feeling that the issue lies with my digestion as there´s something fishy going on there, but let´s see.

Either way, here´s wishing Steve Smith some good sleep during Test matches and I also advise him to take this issue seriously before things go out of hand - and they can go out of hand quickly, I tell you.

 

[aukhan]

We reward ourselves with Niharis and Biryanis for every run we score.

 

[MenInG]

Yasir suddenly doing better than Smith in terms of runs - conceded and scored!

 

[Majid Khan]

A chocolate bar for every 100?

Bowlers aside, our players would have more or less given up eating chocolate if they waited till they scored a century, before getting a chocolate bar.

Chocolate bar after a quarter-century(25) would be a better reward system for Pakistani batsmen.

 

[MenInG]

Seems Smiths chocolate eating days are not happening that often!

Out for 16 in second innings vs New Zealand

 

[khan_aa]

I eat a chocolate bar when Steve smith scores a century too

 

[jnaveen1980]

I will never question temporary slump of Kohli, Smith, Root, Williamson. All will go through temporarily only to come back stronger. It is part and parcel of all Test batsmen. Especially someone like Kohli who seamlessly adjusts between 3 formats will find even tougher to maintain the form. Credit to him he is maintaining it.