{"id":228998,"date":"2025-10-21T03:20:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T03:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/228998\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T03:20:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T03:20:10","slug":"steve-smith-adopting-new-mindset-with-less-is-more-approach-to-ashes-preparation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/228998\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve Smith adopting new mindset with less-is-more approach to Ashes preparation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Steve Smith<\/a> is bullish his six weeks in New York has him perfectly poised for the Ashes<\/a>, also warning standing in as captain only lifts his batting to another level.<\/p>\n

Smith returned to Sydney last week after not picking up a cricket bat since late August, what he believes is now his ideal preparation for the summer.<\/p>\n

Often renowned for being a cricket nuffie who can be heard tapping his bat in hotel rooms, Smith has taken a less-is-more approach late in his career \u2014 a change which would be unrecognisable to his younger self.<\/p>\n

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He believes it helps him stay in form for longer, as evidenced by centuries against India in Brisbane and Melbourne last summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI certainly get drained mentally quicker than I\u2019ve probably used to,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTen years ago I loved to come back and play every single game that I could. Now obviously my Test cricket has taken a huge priority.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that when I play a lot at the start, by the end of the summer I\u2019m pretty caught mentally and probably can\u2019t produce the same performances.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year I was probably batting my best at the back end of the summer against India, coming off not too much cricket at the start.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 36-year-old had his first outdoor net of the summer in Sydney on Tuesday, after a few throw-downs facing the side-arm in the past week.<\/p>\n

\"SteveSteve Smith says he is in tune with his body and mind ahead of the Ashes. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

But after just a few hits, Smith believes he is already in good nick for the summer with two Sheffield Shield matches to come before the first Test on November 21.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, it takes me two hits to get sorted. I feel like I\u2019m ready to go now,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s obviously a balance, but I don\u2019t think it takes me much now to get up to game speed and I want to try and stay as mentally fresh.<\/p>\n

\u201cTechnically I feel in a good place, it\u2019s about being mentally fresh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not hitting as many balls as I used to.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s to try and get the most out of myself mentally when I\u2019m out in the middle and be able to concentrate for long periods of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith\u2019s more relaxed approach will also raise questions over whether he can play on for longer and until the 2027 Ashes.<\/p>\n

But the right-hander said it was too soon to make a call on his future, and he would re-evaluate again at the end of this summer.<\/p>\n

The other facet for Smith is the captaincy.<\/p>\n

Pat Cummins is yet to resume bowling, meaning he is now almost certain to miss the first Test in Perth.<\/p>\n

Smith will lead Australia, with the stand-in skipper believing he is more relaxed than when he was the full-time captain between 2013 and 2017.<\/p>\n

And he also knows his batting also improves with the role, averaging 68.98 in the role compared to 49.90 when not captain.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s interesting how the brain works,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I kind of go to another level and try to set a standard, I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Mitch Marsh laughs off Ashes talk with perfect response<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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