A few months ago Steve Smith announced his retirement from ODI cricket following ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal defeat to India. Smith was gutted to miss out on a chance to bid adieu to ODI cricket with a title win. However, he had much to look forward to, the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final against South Africa. However, Smith who is often seen shadow batting and barely misses out on any chance on having a crack at a bowler, did not pick up a bat for three months. Ahead of the clash against South Africa at the Lord's, Smith admitted that he did not hit a single ball since missing a full toss from Mohammed Shami.
"I'd normally have a bat laying around the house somewhere and just pick it up and do a bit of shadow batting and stuff. But I made a conscious decision to try and just let it go for a while. It was good," Smith told ESPNCricinfo.
"I hadn't hit a ball since I missed a full toss off Mohammed Shami in the Champions Trophy. Fortunately, everything sort of clicked into place immediately. I feel like I'm moving really well, I feel strong and just ready to get into it now.
"Normally how it works is my first hit's good, my second hit's awful, and then I'd get better from there. But both hits were just really good and I was like, hopefully it doesn't turn around now and I don't have to spend hours in the nets the next couple of days."
Smith was dismissed for 73 off 96 balls in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal. Since then, he hasn't played competitive cricket.
Smith on cusp of history at Lord's
Smith has a good record at the Lord's. He has scored 525 runs from nine innings at an average of 58.33, including two centuries and two half-centuries. He is not too far behind Don Bradman (551) or Warren Bardsley (551) to break the record for most runs by an Australian at the venue. He hopes to pick right where he left off in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
"I play a lot of back foot shots here, I don't tend to get too far forward to the ball. I try and score really square of the wicket. It kind of just suits me in a way. Hopefully can kick off where I left off the last couple of Tests that we played [in Sri Lanka]," the 36-year-old said.
Smith to bat on his second-favourite ground
Smith labelled the Lord's as his second-favourite ground to play at. On a lighter note, he also talked about the lunch offered at the iconic venue.
"I think it's probably, outside of Sydney, my favourite ground to play at. The history, the surface itself. It always takes a few balls just to get used to that slope. One end you feel like you're standing really tall, the other end you feel like you're falling over a little bit. But the ball races away, both up the hill and down the hill," he said.
"And then the lunch is fabulous. They always say it's a great place to miss out so you can enjoy your lunch. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the last few years I've done really well there, so I haven't been able to cash in on that."
Smith's Test record vs South Africa
Meanwhile, Smith does not have a great but decent record against South Africa as per his standards. From 14 Tests, he has scored 854 runs at an average of 44.94, including two centuries and four half-centuries.