Australia batsman Steve Smith will use the hostility of his impending Test return to South Africa to fuel his run-scoring output.
The former captain marks his first red-ball appearance in the country since receiving a one-year ban following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. The first fixture begins on 9 October in Durban, before the series moves to Gqeberha and Cape Town.
Speaking to News Corp, as reported by the Hindustan Times, Smith admitted camera flashes still trigger anxiety, recalling his Johannesburg airport departure. Despite discussions surrounding a modern Test farewell, his psychological conditioning remains a vital asset for the touring side.
“It was certainly a difficult period, particularly the initial period, a few days after. The mental state I was in was not great. That’s somewhere I’d like not to get to again, but I certainly learned from that and have been able to move forward with my life. I can’t remember a lot about the series. I’ve tried to block most of it out of my memory bank,” Smith said.
Channelling Hostility Into Motivation
Rather than letting the Cape Town fallout dominate his preparation, the veteran channels opposition animosity into runs. Since returning from his suspension, Smith has accumulated 10,920 runs in Test matches at an average of 56.
“It’s something I’m kind of used to. I’ve copped a lot at times away from home at different venues across my career, and it’s something that I take in my own stride. I use it as motivation to try and go out and do well and try and take a positive from it,” he added.
While domestic scheduling adjustments allow for Usman Khawaja’s full BBL return, the international squad continues their African tour. Australia will play three one-day internationals against South Africa starting on 24 September.
