I lost a bit of love for cricket at one point, recalls Steven Smith after Ashes heroics

Steven Smith has had a poetic return to cricket’s most extended format as he performed on possibly the biggest stage for an Indian cricketer when his fellow men failed to do so. Taking the field in all-whites with the national team crest after more than 16 months, his bold 144 amidst a batting collapse will certainly be remembered as one of his finest ever performances. Be it his ban from all cricketing activities after the ball tampering incident or a serious injury he sustained early this year, Smith has battled all odds to emerge triumphant.   

"There were times throughout the last 15 months where I didn't know if I was ever going to play cricket again. I lost a bit of love for it at one point, particularly when I had my elbow operation, and it was really bizarre, it was the day when I got my brace off my elbow I found my love for it again. I don't know what it was, it was like a trigger to go again, I want to play, I want to go out and play for Australia and I guess make people proud and just do what I love doing,” an emotional Steve Smith said at the close of day one of the first Ashes test, reported ESPNCricinfo.

Coming in when Stuart Broad’s fierce start had Australia reeling at 17/2, Steve Smith watched on as one wicket fell after the other. Soon reduced to 122/8, the former skipper planned his innings strategically and put up partnerships of 88 and 74 with tailenders Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon respectively. His heroics meant the Kangaroos ended on 284, a more than competitive total.

"I think it has got to be one of my best hundreds, definitely, first Ashes Test match, the ball was doing a fair bit out in the morning so I had to work really hard. I got beaten a few times but I just had to let that go and concentrated on the next ball and kept digging in, I know that the first Test for an Ashes series is always big. I didn't want to give my wicket up easily, I wanted to keep fighting and fortunately I was able to dig in today and get ourselves to a reasonable total I think,” Smith said.

In his 80s with Lyon on the other end, Smith batted through some tense moments and in the end blasted his way to a hundred. The home crowd tried to rattle him with jeers, but the raw emotions of relief and satisfaction on his face combined with the Australian dressing room’s enthusiasm was an image that will remain embedded in the heart of many cricketing fans 

"It doesn't bother me to be perfectly honest, I know I've got the support of the guys in the room and for me that's all that really matters," he said. "They went berserk on the balcony when I got to a hundred and just looking up at them really sent shivers down my spine. It's been a long time coming, getting another Test hundred, and it was a huge moment and I'm lost for words, I don't really know what to say at the moment," concluded Smith.