Angry Smith lambasts batsmen

Australia captain Steve Smith pulled no punches when discussing his side’s batting collapses, and subsequent series defeat, against South Africa in Hobart.
The Aussies lost eight wickets for just 32 runs on day four to lose by an innings and 80 runs, and Smith had to watch most of the wickets tumble from the non-striker’s end.
The first innings saw a similar collapse, as did the first Test in Perth, and Smith (who scored 48 of his side’s 85 runs in the first innings in Hobart) was enraged.
He rued his side’s lack of ‘resilience’ in tough circumstances, just as they had capitulated in Sri Lanka to lose that series three-nil a few months ago.
Smith said: “I am embarrassed to be sitting here to be perfectly honest with you.
“Too many times we have lost wickets in clumps, 8 for 30 today, 10 for 85 in the first innings, and you are not winning any games of cricket when are you doing that.
“And it is happening way too consistently for my liking.
“We are not being resilient, we are not willing to tough it out and get through tough periods and the longer you spend out there things get easier, albeit the wicket was doing quite a bit and it was hard.
“But, the boys have got to start being a bit tougher and getting in a grind and getting in a contest and try to build a few partnerships because right now it is not good enough.”
He added: “Whether the ball is seaming or spinning or swinging we don’t have an answer at the moment.
“We are not resilient enough, we are not digging in enough, we are not having the pride in our wicket, we’re just not being resilient enough and something has got to change.
“We have got to play a lot better than we have been if we are going to beat any opposition around the world at the moment.”
The third Test in Adelaide is a day-night match, which should help the Aussies as South Africa have never played a pink ball Tests, and very few practice matches.
Latest
-
News
Matt Parkinson takes positives from England tour despite lack of game time
Parkinson did not see competitive action in Sri Lanka or India.
-
News
Ponting sheds light on Smith’s Delhi Capitals role
Delhi Capitals coach Ricky Ponting has given some insight into where Steve Smith would fit into his side.
-
News
Akhtar ‘wouldn’t call De Kock a cheat’ but run-out not in the ‘spirit of cricket’
Shoaib Akhtar has had his say on Quinton de Kock’s controversial actions during the run-out of Fakhar Zaman.
-
News
Sarah Taylor set for playing comeback in The Hundred with Welsh Fire
Taylor put her cricketing career on hold in September 2019 when announcing her international retirement.
-
News
Eoin Morgan believes there is still room for all three formats
England 50-over World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan...
-
News
Ricky Ponting predicts big future for Prithvi Shaw
Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting is...
-
News
‘My experiences at Yorkshire were always good’, says Ajmal Shahzad
Senior players at Headingley “took me under their wing”, says the former fast bowler.
-
News
Bangladesh hopeful of hosting Sri Lanka despite lockdown
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remain hopeful...
-
News
Sachin Tendulkar hospitalised with coronavirus
The 47-year-old former India batsman tested positive for Covid-19 last weekend.
-
News
De Villiers names all-time IPL XI, names Dhoni as captain
Ahead of the start of the new IPL season, Royal Challengers Bangalore star AB de Villiers has named his all-time XI of the competition.