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December 27, 2019

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Smith blocks out the boos in MCG test

It鈥檚 the biggest event on Australia鈥檚 cricket calendar, the opening day of the Boxing Day test at Melbourne Cricket Ground. It鈥檚 not the time an Australia batsman would expect to be booed.

鈥淚s that what happened? I have no idea,鈥 Steve Smith said yesterday after scoring an unbeaten 77 on day one of the second test against New Zealand.

Walking to the crease at the fall of Australia鈥檚 second wicket, in front of a record crowd of more than 80,000 鈥 the biggest attendance ever for a day鈥檚 play in an Australia-New Zealand test 鈥 Smith was greeted by a mixture of boos and cheers.

The booing was no doubt linked to Smith鈥檚 12-month ban at the hands of Cricket Australia for his role in the ball-tampering affair in the Cape Town test against South Africa in March 2018. Smith was Australia鈥檚 captain at the time.

Smith is eligible to regain Australia鈥檚 captaincy role in March 2020. The 30-year-old showed tremendous resilience during Australia鈥檚 Ashes tour of England in 2019, scoring 774 runs at an average of 110.57 and jointly winning the player-of-the-series award with England鈥檚 Ben Stokes, despite constant abuse from English crowds.

And now he is hearing boos in his home country.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 really listen when I walk out to bat. Cheering, booing, dunno,鈥 Smith added.

鈥淚鈥檝e learnt to just block it all out, regardless, good or bad.鈥

Smith has scored centuries in his past four Melbourne tests, before missing last year鈥檚 clash against India because of his 12-month suspension. It will be interesting to see if the boos turn into cheers if the world No. 2-ranked batsman鈥檚 sheer class is on display again today.

鈥淥ne more good partnership tomorrow would be nice and I think set the game up for us鈥 Smith said. 鈥淭he plan will obviously be to score as many runs as we can.鈥

Australia will resume on 257 for 4 wickets after being sent in to bat. The hosts lead the three-match series 1-0.


 

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