Smith expresses readiness ahead of the five-match Test series against England

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Australia`s star batsman Steve Smith had his first net session since August and declared that he is ready for the Ashes after a refreshing break in New York.

Due to Pat Cummins` back injury, Smith is likely to lead Australia in the first Test match against England. According to ESPNCricinfo, Smith returned to Sydney and got back into practice net sessions.

“Honestly, it takes me two hits to get sorted. I feel like I`m ready to go now. I feel like I`m moving really nicely. I feel in a good place. I`ve been training quite hard. I`ve been doing a lot of lifting, trying to get a bit stronger. And I did all my strength tests yesterday and they`re all as good as they`ve ever been. So I feel like I`m going good,” Smith said.

The right-hander was recovering from an injury that he sustained during the World Test Championship final this year, and also left the tour of the West Indies. Since then, this was the first time Smith picked up a bat.

Cummins` availability for the first Test match against the “Three Lions” is uncertain. The first Ashes game will be played on November 21.

Speaking about his fitness, Smith revealed that the pacer is yet to resume his bowling, and it will be beneficial for the team, the more the number of games he plays.

“He`s obviously got a few things to tick off and get into his bowling, but he was in good spirits and the team`s obviously better with him in it for sure. Hopefully he can get right and if he plays three Tests or five Tests or two Tests, as many as we can get out of him, it`s the best for the team,” said the 36-year-old cricketer.

The right-hander has the ability to manage dual responsibilities of captaincy and batting. One of the six Test matches he filled both the roles was during the 2021-22 Ashes, when Cummins was a Covid close contact in Adelaide, and the right-hander had played a knock of 93 runs in the first innings.

In terms of losing Cummins` bowling, Smith had little doubt that Scott Boland could fill the breach. “I mean, we`ve got a pretty good replacement in Scott Boland, who I think is arguably one of the best bowlers in the world,” he said.

“His record in Australia is outrageous, so we`re good there. Then the other two [Starc and Hazlewood] obviously have done a wonderful job for a long time as well. So I don`t think it disrupts too much,” he concluded.

(With ANI Inputs)

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