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'We're all guilty of that at stages throughout our careers, don't worry, but...': Steve Smith's straightforward answer when asked to give advice to Babar Azam

Steve Smith praised Babar Azam when asked about what advice he would give the under-fire Pakistan batter after a slow knock against New Zealand.

Sports Tak

• Sat • 22 Feb 2025

Babar Azam, Steve Smith, Mohammad Rizwan

Pakistan's Babar Azam (L) speaks with Australia's Steve Smith (C) as Mohammad Rizwan watches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 20, 2023.

Highlights:

Babar Azam scored a half-century at a strike rate of just over 70.

Babar has been criticised for his approach in run chase.

Steve Smith lauded Babar's technique amidst criticism.

Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam scored a half-century in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener but it ended up in losing cause. In the run chase of 321, Babar scored 64 runs from 90 balls at a strike rate of 71.11. Babar is getting criticised by former cricketers for his approach in modern-day ODI cricket. In a pre-match press conference on February 21, Australia captain Steve Smith was asked what advice he would give to a struggling Babar.

"Look, he's a quality player. He has had a really good career so far. He's got all the time in the world, the way he plays, he has 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," Smith said.

Australia have been lacklustre in last few ICC Champions Trophy editions. Smith admitted the fact but backed his players to do wel under pressure.

“We haven’t done well in the Champions Trophy compared to other ICC events but I think the pressure of playing tournaments always brings out the best in us," Smith said at a pre-match conference here on Friday.

ALSO READ: 'They have plenty of problems in the team': Irfan Pathan bashes Pakistan's senior players for refraining from playing aggressive modern-day cricket

Smith's message to young players

Smith also revealed the message to the young players in the absence of veteran players Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood and others.

“I think in the Champions Trophy you have to be focussed from the start and in the last World Cup we were slow to get started and we were under the pump and then we brought our best at the backend of the tournament," he said.

“In the Champions Trophy you can’t be slow and that is our message to our group of players. It is basically you are playing quarterfinals from the start so you just have to be switched on," he added.

ALSO READ: 'Not so sure it was friendly': Shaun Pollock reacts to Fazalhaq Farooqi pushing Aiden Markram during Champions Trophy 2025 clash

When Australia took on England in previous edition

In their last two meetings against England, Australia have lost by big margins. The last time Australia and England went up against each other, Ben Stokes scored an unbeaten century and the hosts won. Only four players from the playing XI of that game are a part of the current squad.