Australian cricketer Steve Smith admitted to falling short of his usual high standards this year but shared an unconventional solution he's found taking up golf.
Despite being a key player in Australia's triumphant year of cricket, securing the Ashes, World Test Championship, and the World Cup, the star batsman acknowledged a dip in his form. As the first Test against Pakistan loomed in Perth, the 34-year-old, averaging 58.61 in Tests and ranked third globally by the ICC, reflected on a less stellar performance in the Ashes and the away series in India, with averages of 37.30 and 29, respectively.
Addressing reporters in Perth, Smith remarked, "I don't have to reinvent the wheel. I've performed at a high standard for a long period of time. I was probably below my standards of what I want. For me, it's about not overthinking it, not overplaying too much, not changing too much."
Amidst the rigors of a draining 2023, Smith, who had little time to savor Australia's World Cup victory in India, found solace in golf. Expressing the importance of mental rejuvenation, he stated, "Any sort of moment you can get to have a few days or a week just to get away from the game and get your mental side back to a position where you can go out and perform internationally, it's important."
Embracing golf, Smith humorously revealed, "I've sort of got into the golf a bit and played a bit of golf back home. The boys are continually laughing about it at the moment, that I'm getting into golf."
