Ashes 2019 | I think and visualize before I play, reveals Steve Smith

Prior to the Old Trafford Test, all limelight was on Steve Smith, after the blow to the neck he had taken at Lord's. There were questions raised over his fitness and there were even suggestions that the bouncer might be playing on his mind and that Jofra Archer will have the mental edge over him. To add to all this, Smith also came out to bat with the stem guard, something which he said made him feel "claustrophobic", and one wondered if this would yield different results for England in the fourth Test.

But then again, there's a reason why the New South Welshman is considered to be the best after Bradman and on Thursday, he proved exactly why people rate him so highly as on his first Test post his concussion injury, Smith struck his third Ashes double century and pummelled the English bowlers to submission. He also struck his eighth consecutive 50+ score in Ashes cricket, setting a new record in the process.

Speaking about his batting and his knock, in particular, Smith revealed that visualizing the ball before it's released helped him get a rough picture of where he was going to get the runs and how the opposition was planning to get him out, thus helping him to devise a plan in accordance with that. He also revealed that once a batsman is out in the middle, adaptation is the key to tackle different elements and obstacles and eventually come out on top. 

"I think and visualize before I play where people are likely to bowl to me and where I am likely to score and try to picture fields that are set and play things over in my mind, where I am going to get runs and how they are looking to get me out," Smith said in the post-match press conference, reported Cricbuzz.

"Then out in the middle, you have to adapt to whatever is thrown at you. I changed my guard, or the way I face up, not my guard, I keep my guard the same, but the way I move across, or where I move to depending on what they are trying to do," he added.

Batting on 118, Smith got caught off the bowling of Jack Leach at first-slip but ended up getting a massive reprieve, thanks to the bowler overstepping. Recalling that moment, the Australian revealed that he was angry with the shot he played, but then wanted to make the most of his second-chance once Leach had overstepped. Eventually, he added 93 more runs to his tally and finished with 211 to pile more misery on the English.

"I thought I was out so I was a bit angry with the shot that I played," Smith said of his shot.

"It spun and bounced a little bit but wasn't overly happy with the shot I played to get out and when I saw the foot over the line and Kumar (Dharmasena) called me back it was 'how good's this, I get to stay out here and keep batting'. Obviously some luck and then made the most of it from there," he explained. 

Smith also admitted that he lost concentration mid-way through his innings when Leach was bowling but revealed that he got back to his senses once he got the lucky reprieve. 

"I lost a bit of concentration for around 20 minutes or so when Leach was bowling. I tried to hit one into next week and landed safely and obviously got a nick from a ball that spun and bounced a little bit, but probably didn't need to play it the way I did.

"I was losing my concentration a bit, I was in a bit of a hurry for I reckon 20 minutes and after I got caught off the no-ball I switched myself back on and got back in to where I needed to be."

The double-century from Smith should also see him extend his lead at the top of the ICC Test rankings for batsmen.