Just trust yourself: Steve Smith’s words of advice for Joe Root

Tags: The Ashes 2021-22, Australia vs England, 2nd Test at Adelaide, Dec 16-20, 2021, Australia, England, Steven Peter Devereux Smith, Joseph Edward Root

Published on: Dec 21, 2021

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Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith had some words of advice for England captain Joe Root following the 2nd Ashes Test in Adelaide on Monday. England showed some fight on Day 5 but eventually went down by 275 runs in the pink-ball Test as the hosts took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Resuming at 82 for 4, England were bowled out for 192 as Jhye Richardson claimed five wickets.

With another defeat as Test captain, the pressure will only rise on Root. Sharing some tips for his opposite number in the match, Smith told cricket.com.au, “There’s always going to be critics out there that critique your performance as a captain. I guess for him (Root), the best advice I could give is just trust yourself, and do everything you can to help your team grow and be as successful as you can be.”

“Sometimes as a captain, you get outplayed by the opposition and there’s not a great deal you can do. But just reflecting or seeing what you can do better is always important, that’s part of being a player or a leader,” he added.

Smith was named captain for the Test just ahead of the match after Pat Cummins was ruled out as he came in close contact with a COVID positive case. The experienced cricketer said that it was fun to do the job as it brought back some old memories. The stand-in captain commented, "It's been an enjoyable week leading the team in Pat's absence and carrying on what we started at the Gabba. It brought back some old memories, I guess, I had fun out there. It's Patty's team and I'm the vice-captain and I'll help Patrick in any way I can. That's my job, and I'll continue to hopefully lead with the bat."

In Cummins and Josh Hazlewood’s absence, Mitchell Starc stood up and played the lead role, claiming six key wickets. Praising Starc’s efforts, Smith said, "I think that's the best I've seen him bowl in a while," Smith said. "He summed up the conditions really well, he realised it wasn't swinging and was just able to hit a really nice line and length and did it all game. Thought he bowled exceptionally well and led the attack.

"To have got [Root] out last night was huge for us; he was obviously in a fair amount of pain, but I won't take anything away from how Starcy bowled either. He set him up really nicely, came round the wicket because he was leaving him pretty well," he added.

England and Australia will next meet in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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